The “Tech Screen” Interview
Most regular Jobsblog readers know that the job hunting process often starts with a call from a recruiter and ends with a job offer, but somewhere in the middle, before you are invited for an interview, there may be a in-between step and last invisible hurdle ….
Recruiters call it the “tech screen”, and if you are job hunting, here this is what it’s all about:
After a recruiter talks to you and determines you could be a good potential fit, they send your resume and their recommendation to the team. That team looks it over, and assuming they agree with the recruiter's recommendation (which they should!), they request a phone call with you prior to the formal interview. This phone call is important ... it is the final step and determining factor in inviting you in for the interview. If you have one of these calls, here is my advice:
Treat it like an interview: Ask your recruiter the background of the person you are speaking with and what to expect for the call. The tech screen is highly variable: some are deeply technical and others are conversational, so it’s best to know what you are getting into.
Have your tools ready: Have paper, pencil and your laptop and in front of you at the start of the call: It sounds silly, but many times you will be asked a problem on the phone that will be easier to solve with everything at hand. I don’t know how many times I have heard of people trying to solve everything in their head or shuffle through a drawer midway for a stray pencil. Get prepared.
Have questions: Hopefully, the person you talk to will be engaging enough to tell you a bit about the team, but if they don’t, make sure you ask. Save questions about compensation, Microsoft, and company culture for your recruiter- ask this team member all about the current project- they want to know you are passionate! This is your last chance to talk to your future co-worker before the interview- make the best of it.
Lastly, if you are interviewing with me, all this advice is in vain, because I don’t do tech screens anymore, but I will email you a coding problem that you can answer in your spare time and send back to me. No extra advice on how to pass that one, other than to include a little flattery with your reply … I am easily buttered-up and love to see the Jobsblog readers hire ….so let me know you read it here first.
-Jenna
6 Comments
Naveen said:
I guess you’re right about having a paper and pencil. Many of us don’t do that.
Withheld said:
Care to post one of those coding problems on the blog Jenna? I'd love to just see what sort of problem it is.
Caleb said:
Thanks for those lovely tips :)
I kind of hate having been asked code-related questions in an interview, when sitting in front of a person that is watching you and waiting for youre reply. It's really stressful.
I'd much rather have a test with a bunch of questions and sit in a class with others and solve them one by one rather than being pressured :)
Your way of doing it is excellent too. You let the person do it in the comfort of their homes, where they can think best.
knguyen said:
Very nice !
I wonder what is going on while the interviewee doing the problem over the phone. Just silence ? It seems kind of awkward to me because I always feel that I or the other need to say something
all the time during a phone conversation.
Maybe it is just me !
Ratajik said:
> I wonder what is going on while the interviewee doing the problem over the phone.
> Just silence ? It seems kind of awkward to me because I always feel that I or the
> other need to say something all the time during a phone conversation
As the person being interviewed, I try to treat this just like I would if I was doing the interview in person - talk about what I'm thinking, walk through the logic I'm using to solve the problem, ask lots of questions, etc.
Or hum a lot (remembering to ask Jenna before hand what type of music the interviewer likes *grin*).
Sajid said:
Hey, that paper pencil thing thats not totally true. I had mine ready, and I think all my friends who ever went through this had theirs ready too.
Agreed totally about the taking it as an interview part. I mean we do get to talk to the company representative.