We are far less scary than Interview with a Vampire – Matt occasionally draws candidate blood but that’s about it 
The interview process here at Lab49 is rigorous – it’s something we see as absolutely key to ensure the calibre of your colleagues and the quality of delivery to our clients. We, in turn, provide the kind of environment where you can fulfil your potential and work with some amazing people.
Whilst I manage the interview process for the UK and at some point in the process you, unfortunately 
, have the pleasure of meeting with me, the rest of your interviews are with your potential new colleagues. That’s it – you get to speak with those people who make our company – they are exceptionally passionate about technology and that shows in every single interview that they do.
We ask for full and frank feedback from all interviewers in the process and we pass that on to the candidates. Interviewing is always a 360 process and so by giving candidates their feedback and candidates sharing their feedback with us, both parties have the opportunity to improve and add more value to their role in the process.
One of my colleagues recently passed on some feedback about a candidate (he had also made the recommendation to the candidate during the interview that he read certain techical books); he had excellent interpersonal skills and a real passion for technology but his previous experience had blinkered his technical abilities and made him rather narrow in his knowledge and outlook. My colleague passed this feedback on to me and I, in turn, sent it on to the candidate. The candidate, who I knew to be a great person, mailed me back asking me to thank my colleague for his time, feedback and advice and to say that he was now reading one of the recommended books.
I passed this feedback on to my colleague who was surprised about the positive feedback from the candidate – expecting that the candidate would be somewhat defensive rather than welcoming of his honesty. It goes to show that those technologists who are always looking to improve (our kind of people!) will admit that they can and want to learn from others (as per Lab49’s collaborative learning environment).
Should you receive feedback from an interview that has perhaps not gone so well, remember that the interviewer has taken time to provide constructive (in most instances – certainly that’s the way it is here!) feedback to enable you to get better and better – not to put you down….
October 26, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Interviewing people and getting to know their skills and potential is a very difficult thing to do in a couple hours.
Better have a good history and good references than anything else.
Most technical interviews are useless (in the sense that the candidate can give good answers without being good if the candidate is well prepared).
And if you want to ask tough questions, then the candidate not being able to answer correctly should not be a sign that the candidate is not able.
A good interview process should last couple days to be meaningfull and appreciate the real value of each candidate. (of course u don t need 5 days to find lame candidates).
Anyway, just a generic thought…
October 27, 2006 at 9:11 am
While there are pitfalls with recruitment, a certain level of skill comes with simply being an experienced and passionate craftsman. Because we engage with the candidates beyond the simplistic q & a, it is quite possible to truly achieve a good level of appreciation about a candidate. Sadly, some people will be missed, but the true testament to our recruitment process is the level and calibre of all of our employees here at Lab49.
I was nervous in my first interview, but I got the job. Nerves disabled me from answering the way I would have had I not been nervous, but Marie and the colleagues are in my view very adept at recognising that nerves does not equate to lack of skill or ability. I remember Marie very skillfully brought the discussion into an area I am passionate about, and the nerves fell into the background. I say this because I know that it is daunting (for me) to think about joining a company that is renowed for its skillful practitioners, but I have to say the best interview I have ever had has been with Lab49.