Interview - Do corporate programmers understand people from across the tracks?

[DaveJ]

I have a technical interview coming up, in the C# .Net MS Client side realm, and I am feeling fear and apprehension. Luckily I have a few days to prepare.

I have wanted to work with a team of developers/inventors my entire life, but every move I've made has stymied that goal. I've been working since 16 creating applications, websites, circuit boards, etc., but never in a team environment.

Working in a team enables people to focus on one technology exclusively until it is mastered, something I have never had the luxury to do. Working with a team also keeps ideas fresh, as long as the team members are into that.

I have a feeling others simply went to college or took a few classes, then "poof" they were working with others and their career was on track. Me, I've always focused on completing projects, whether for me or others, not on discussing concepts and minutiae, which by the way, I'd LOVE to do if people would let me. Somehow, I've been able to accomplish every project I've set out to accomplish. I do not sit around talking all day about what approach to take, I just do it. So, I'm in the gutter career-wise and my vast life experience had taught me that when people are in the gutter, and people come along, 99.9% of them will push you back in as you're trying to get out of it. Also, I'm also about 15 years older than I expect them to be, but I'm not too concerned about that.

So I expect they will be grilling me on minutiae like Lambda expressions, delegate types, sophisticated Linq and SQL queries, stored procedures, and who knows. The recruiter briefly mentioned a technical questionnaire (test) to start the day, then meeting with 2 or more people taking a tour of their workplace. She also mentioned how they "teach" things to help their employees, but I'm taking that with a grain of salt. They have 85 programmers, they are a good hip cutting edge company with relationships with the big players in the industry. Currently, I work with 1 guy who I taught everything to and who has no interest in learning anything new (just quoting him). I've always been anxious to help others, but I do not think that is a common attribute.

If I may ask, then, if I haven't managed to piss off everyone, what should I study? Are there any good technical interview preparation websites? Is there any way a company would ever help me, or am I destined to fail?

[Vincardog]

1. IF you know your shit you know it. The interview is to see if they want

to spend time with you.
Go through your post and take out any thing negative in it.
At the interview tell them the same story you told here.
Add some specifics about how their company is just what you have been looking for;
and how you and your talents & abilities are a good fit for them.

[DaveJ]

2. Thanks, I'm negative, I feel sorry for my wife. She is trying to change me.

As far as knowing my shit, I'm sure they must be light years ahead of me. They have worked with others their entire lives. I never have.

Ok, I guess I'm going to be negative, but, how can I say this. Everyone I've come across raised in this area (Chicago) have led very sheltered lives, and it is very unlikely they will understand the circumstances that have led to me being in the situation I'm in, they had dozens of colleges to chose from, trains, libraries, it's like DisneyLand here, and instead of taking anything into consideration, will just make the 'no' box because I'm different. But I'll try.

Oh well, that's the world we live in. People are shooting up theaters, voting for Republicans, protesting healthcare, thinking an outsourcer would make a great President, it's a messed up world, I shouldn't be surprised. In the 2% chance I get it, I'll be happy.

[TBA]

3. You seem like a bright guy

but sorely lacking confidence. IMO you need to refocus on your abilities. Here is my tried and true method... I use pencil and paper (helps me remember).Whatever, keep it with you over the next several days and write down in narrative form every good/smart thing you have done professionally, through volunteering, etc.. Be descriptive and write in complete sentences. Surely you have worked with others at some time. Volunteering perhaps?

Anyway ... working on a development team can be a great experience or a disaster. I've experienced both. The manager/leader of the team is a huge factor. Techies tend to have egos and lack interpersonal skills. A great manager can get everyone working together. So try to get a sense of the managers style. Watch how he/she interacts with the other team members.

But most of all... get to writing. You will be amazed at how this preparation will help your confidence in the interview.

Write alot... pages and pages.

[DaveJ]

4. Again, Thank you. Your advice is great.

I went in there without looking at your advice first, and as expected did not get the job.

Actually, I was dreading the idea of working there after seeing the environment. People are literally shuttled in by the busload. They are crammed in like sardines. But I would have worked there anyway, and I would have done a good job, I need experience working with other techies. I do my best to get along with even the most vile personalities, because I'm just interested in the work being done. It's a Catch 22 situation, where I want to work with other technical people, but I lack experience working with other technical people. They have made themselves unapproachable, to me specifically it seems. It's sort of infuriating, especially the narrow mindedness of people who cannot see things from the perspective of other situations, and that there are so many people like that out there. Everyone there even LOOKS the same. (Not that's it's an old school environment, they probably think they are cool but they are very conformist, making IBM look like a circus carnival in comparison) The guy in charge did not ask any questions at all, he just put me on the spot from the moment he walked in the door and said "you got a thing for startups?" All he did was complain about the company. Again, it looked like a miserable environment. But I do want to work with other techies, I do not understand why everyone else gets to work with other except for me. It's ironic that I cannot get rid of the job I have now, yet nobody will hire me for any other job.