I interviewed at Salesforce.com in mid January 2011. It was at 300 Market Street San Francisco, bright and early 8:30AM. Linda Ellis, Raja Bhamidapati, Allison Nishioka, Kei Tang, Ranjani Salur, Rhoita Misra, Sagar Wanaselja, Sam shoute. I didn't get the job. I was put through the ringer. I completely agree with this (difficult interviewers) report. Here are some notes:
I met with 10 people during the interview. A complete battery of psychological analysis. In that group was every kind of co worker I've ever dealt with. I could tell some were acting the part to try to throw me off base and test me for any sociopathic or personality problems. Some were insulting me in my face, some were super charismatic, some people with impossibly hard questions. Some questions were strangely easy. The whole gambit, it gave my personality side a workout (Programmers usually don't work hard on dealing with the 50 personality types).
They planned the sit down coding test an hour after lunch, to test if you know how to deal with the 'afternoon dip' in energy. The coding test I did well on, it was to create functionality to replace the "String" class with char * in java. And more importantly is to unit test. Do this in one hour.
On the plus side, they paid my entire way. and got me into the "Omni hotel" one of the best hotels I've ever stayed in. Paid for the Car. It was by far one of the most exciting experiences of my life.
They analyzed my personal life as well and ask questions about what I'm doing when I'm here, what I like to do, what kind of person I am.
The majority of the questions they asked me were a subset of the questions in the book "Cracking the coding interview" by Gaylle Laakman. They were tough questions, but if you are prepared you can give them canned responses.
After that Interview, I felt like I've never been so probed in my life. From stem to stern. Every part of me, everything that makes me a human was analyzed. I left feeling like I've just been scanned by the Borg. I didn't get the job. but I made it to the 'short list' of 13 candidates up for consideration. I left my heart in San Fran California.
I met with 10 people during the interview. A complete battery of psychological analysis. In that group was every kind of co worker I've ever dealt with. I could tell some were acting the part to try to throw me off base and test me for any sociopathic or personality problems. Some were insulting me in my face, some were super charismatic, some people with impossibly hard questions. Some questions were strangely easy. The whole gambit, it gave my personality side a workout (Programmers usually don't work hard on dealing with the 50 personality types).
They planned the sit down coding test an hour after lunch, to test if you know how to deal with the 'afternoon dip' in energy. The coding test I did well on, it was to create functionality to replace the "String" class with char * in java. And more importantly is to unit test. Do this in one hour.
On the plus side, they paid my entire way. and got me into the "Omni hotel" one of the best hotels I've ever stayed in. Paid for the Car. It was by far one of the most exciting experiences of my life.
They analyzed my personal life as well and ask questions about what I'm doing when I'm here, what I like to do, what kind of person I am.
The majority of the questions they asked me were a subset of the questions in the book "Cracking the coding interview" by Gaylle Laakman. They were tough questions, but if you are prepared you can give them canned responses.
After that Interview, I felt like I've never been so probed in my life. From stem to stern. Every part of me, everything that makes me a human was analyzed. I left feeling like I've just been scanned by the Borg. I didn't get the job. but I made it to the 'short list' of 13 candidates up for consideration. I left my heart in San Fran California.