Taking a coding test with another potential candidate at the same time

manpreet Best Answer 3 years ago

I went for a Software Engineering interview earlier which in my opinion was unique in a bad way(s), but in this post I want to highlight only one thing that I observed.

Before going to the interview they shared with me the Agenda through email, which was :

1. Technical Face 2 Face interview, 45 to 60 minutes.

2. Coding challenge using my own computer. 45 minutes.

3. Meeting with Product owner. 45 minutes.

Upon my arrival, they told me that they are in the mid of interviewing another candidate for the same position, and they just finished with him on the first part, and because of that they conduct my 2nd part at the same time with him.

So, They put me in the same room with the other candidate and asked both of us to solve a programming challenge separately using our computer.

I didn't like how they treated us. It made me feel inferior by interviewing me and another person (both of us are so called Senior)for the same position at the same time.

Am I being biased about it? or this is a common practice which I haven't seen before?

manpreet 3 years ago

It's called the "group interview", and while not as popular as it once was, it's not uncommon.

That said, I don't like it, and I wouldn't want to work for a company that pulled that nonsense.

Remember, the interview is where you see the company at it's best. Things only get worse from there.