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Dev-to-dev interviews for senior level positions at high profile organizations

2 points by JamesGilbert ↗ HN
Background: I'm a proficient programmer with extensive experience in my chosen ecosystem. I'm a hard worker, loyal, have a good work history, and can communicate well with others. I don't even have any problem getting work per se, I've turned down a few offers in the past months because it's not exactly what I want.

So, I'm ok with the idea that finding the right job will take time, but I've been at this for several months and I've done enough interviews that I feel like I'm seeing a quite-distressing pattern forming: specifically in my dev-to-dev interviews for senior level high-profile positions the person interviewing me acts in ways that are consistent with acting/feeling threatened, which in turn manifests itself as them actively/openly undermining and discrediting my qualifications and/or my work experience. My best guesses as to why these other developers are acting/feeling threatened come down to:

1. Because I am older than them (I'm 40)

2. Because they do not have as much experience as myself in an area, and somehow admitting this to themselves, which is not a big deal to me (it's not like I rub it in), would be a very big deal to them

3. Because they have to be the smartest person in the room and cannot abide someone else being equal and/or superior in any fashion

I don't understand the full extent of why this keeps happening, and even less sure what to do about it. I don't feel like I've been doing anything special to "deserve" this type of treatment, and imagine that it's pretty common stuff to have to deal with for anyone interviewing for these type of positions. I'm just hoping to find some answers on how to overcome this obstacle and get a good job at a good organization.

13 comments

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PaulHoule
dye your hair?
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thecommentator
If you're asked a question that you can provide multiple answers for (ie. "How would you approach ...") after providing multiple options, try asking the interviewer his take on the problem. People love talking about themselves and their own opinions. The interviewer will end up liking you more without knowing why.
JamesGilbert
This sounds like a good approach. I've tried to do a little bit of this type of thing, but could probably use a lot more. I also kind of vacillate between wanting to asking questions and not wanting to seem like I'm hijacking the interview. Sometimes it seems like they just have their list of questions that they're plowing through so it feels more awkward to ask my own question in the middle of their laundry list.
PaulHoule
When you're dealing with a real job that people really need to fill, there's nothing wrong with hijacking the interview.

For the other kind of job, hijacking will doom you, but do you want that other kind of job?

JamesGilbert
Good point. Maybe I'll should error on the side of trying to ask more questions in the future.
PaulHoule
There are a huge number of psychological tricks that can be used in interviewing, sometimes subverting the process entirely, and the one above is one of the better ones.

In successful interviews the other guys can do 1/2-2/3 of the talking. If you can focus on developing empathy with them, that can get you 100% across the finish line.

JamesGilbert
1. I'm only 40, not 80! ;) 2. These are actually remote interviews.
PaulHoule
I'll just say at 40 there are situations where I dye my hair.

I'm at the "salt and pepper" stage, and it doesn't look bad but certainly if you show up in a high pressure situation people will have a better impression of you.

Since I go heads down for months at a time and only get a haircut when I'm going on tour for some reason, it's pretty cost effective.

If this is really an issue of phone interviews if you contact me I can do a 10 minute mock interview and try to diagnose any communications you have that could be offputting to people.

JamesGilbert
I probably have a few years until I have to start dying it for anything, but I guess I could see where that would make sense eventually. Thanks the ideas - I think with the suggestions here that it might be enough to get me started on trying to redefine these interviews in the future.
hollerith
>specifically in my dev-to-dev interviews for senior level high-profile positions the person interviewing me acts in ways that are consistent with acting/feeling threatened

If a person is hostile or fearful, that tends to make the person he is talking to hostile of fearful, so one possibility is that one of these "negative" emotions is "leaking out" through your body language or tone of voice. For example, if you are tall, make sure you are not hovering or looming over the person to whom you are talking.

I know this is basic stuff, but heck, I spent a long time neglecting to pay attention to it, so I am putting it out there.

Good luck!

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JamesGilbert
That's a good thought. I don't think I felt/acted very hostile or fearful during the interview, but it's probably worth reconsidering..