Job Interview at Vendio

Today (20/03/2008), I had a job interview at a IT firm called Vendio. For those of you who don't know about it - please refer www.vendio.com. Honestly speaking, I don't have much idea about the organization except for the fact that they are into E-Commerce and E-Auction related products. So, anyways, lets move on to the more interesting aspects of the interview!!

I had 4 rounds of interviews - all of them technie rounds, each of which I was able to clear with panache. Basically, from my extensive experience in giving/taking job interviews, one thing I've realized is that - all it takes to crack an interview, however tough/techie it be, IS THE ABILITY TO BULLSHIT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE!
Seriously, that's all it takes. The more straight faced and confident you sound - the more un-nerved the interviewer gets and will move on to the next question. And the best part is - he/she begins to think that you are right!
:D

But, I must warn you in advance. There are people, like one of my good friends Ravi Ramachandran - who interviewed me for my opening at Oracle, with whom you should not try this trick. It will simply back fire. The reason is pretty simple: They're technically very very very sound (read as - they are geeks with no such thing as personal lives!) and on top of that - they are pretty rude to strangers!

Anyways, let get back to main story - So, I was put through four rounds of interviews, each one testing a different skill set:
1. Java/J2EE Concepts, Web Application Design and Standards, Best Practises.
2. Algorithms and Logical/Analytical reasoning Puzzles.
3. Database Concepts, SQL Tuning, Schema Designing, Load Balancing Databases
4. Scenario/Caselet Analysis, Performance Tuning, Applications Scalability Architecting/Designing.


Anyone reading this - would probably feel that I went through some really intense interview panels - Right?
Well - now you know I can bullshit with a straight face!
:P


Anyways ... With my "skills" I navigated each of these panels very successfully - right until the point that the 4th interviewer asked me - "Why do you want to leave Oracle?"

Well ... Truth be told - I kindda forgot that Vendio, like Oracle, was a product company. And so, instead of giving them a concocted answer, I gave them my honest reason for wanting to leave Oracle - because I wanted to move into Business Analysis/Development related of roles in the next 2 - 5 years. All I can say is - this proved to be the most disastrous thingy I could have said at the interview.

The 4th interviewer - who was till then smiling at my excellent "performance" - suddenly started giving me a stern face. He went something like - "We are a product company like Oracle. And the chances of moving into BD is not impossible. But, at your experience level - I think it will take a lot of time. But, yes, you have mentioned a time frame of 3 - 5 years. I don't see any reason why you should not be able to move into such roles in that sort of a time frame - provided you have the right skill sets and talent and showcase the performance needed for the same! Anyways ... How the process works here is - we will give our feedback to the HR and if all goes well, they will get in touch with you in another 2 or 3 days. It was nice talking to you. Have a good day!".

With this he stood up to indicate that it was the end of the interview process per se. Heck - he even escorted me to the reception area.


Well, for the uneducated (read as Non-IT crowd), the above statement might have not sounded "bad" per se. But, since I've been in this business (and I mean interviewing and not IT) for long - that above statement, translated, means this - "Awwwwwwwwww ... Big mistake man ... Just when I was beginning to like you and thinking of offering you a job, you blew it. Now, I'm sure a couple of months into your joining my team - you'll realize this role is not a fit for your career goals and will throw your papers. So, I better go back and see if I can find another person to do the job I want done. In the meanwhile - do you want to leave my office premises on your own, or would you prefer me, to tell security, to throw you out?"


Anyways ... That is a closed chapter. There is nothing much I think I can do about that.


Thinking about it right now - I'm not at all upset at not having got an offer from Vendio, because, if I had eventually gotten an offer, I would have ended up in a job profile that wasn't exactly what I was dreaming/yearning for, and ergo, I wouldn't have been very passionate about it!!!
(Although, I must confess that it is a Big Hit on my ego - that some company turned ME down!)



Guess this mean - The Hunt Is Still On!