I described my experience of the New Grad Software Engineer job-hunting process in an earlier post, titled The Gauntlet. For reference, Wikipedia’s definition of “running the gauntlet” is as follows:
To run the gauntlet means to take part in a form of corporal punishment in which the party judged guilty is forced to run between two rows of soldiers, who strike out and attack them with sticks or other weapons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_the_gauntlet
The process really has felt like that sometimes; each company expecting you to put on a good show 5 or 6 times in a row as the interviewer actively dissects your performance (with the answer sheet sitting in front of them). And even if you do so, providing “optimal” solutions to each of the 6-12 leetcode puzzles they ask over the full course of the process, you may still earn only a terse rejection email with no feedback on your performance.
Even when all of the interviewers are exceedingly amiable, helpful, and professional (and the large majority of mine have been), it feels like being in limbo, never knowing how you’re doing or when the job hunt will end.
I, finally, know when mine will end: today! I got a good offer at a company I’m excited to work for, and so I’ve accepted. I felt I performed about as well with this company as with any of the others I’ve applied for, but despite this company being seen as having a relatively more selective interview process they gave me an offer when others didn’t. I really didn’t know if I had a shot and I still don’t know what to make of it. I advise anyone currently going through the process to apply for the best jobs that you can and not to sell yourself short. Though, maybe that advice reads as survivorship bias.
In any case, I am relieved to be finished with interviewing (for now, and hopefully for at least a few years) and can now look forward to starting my new career this summer. My wife and I will have to say goodbye to family and friends since we are moving across the country, but that’s not for nearly 6 months, so for now I look forward to getting to focus on my remaining coursework and take a breather.
Thanks for reading.
