[LRUG] My experience of Rails job hunting in London (so far!!)

[Elise Huard]

Hi Anthony,

I was in the same position you are now about 2 years ago.

My experience was rather positive: I applied to a company that looked
interesting and got hired.

However, I did have to chase them up - often, especially in smaller
companies, dev recruitment is done by the devs, who have other things
to take care of, so it's not as high in their priority list as it
should be.

Also, the tech part of the interview was both discussion and pairing.
Most companies practice pairing to a certain extent, but the main goal
is really to see how you work.
I would advise you to ask for your favourite editor if that makes you
more comfortable (if it's not too out there), and if not let them know
you're not familiar with the tools. Regardless of your fluency, if you
talk them through what you want to do, it shows your reasoning, which
is what they're after. So it's not 'real' pair programming, as such,
it's you working and showing that you can explain what you're doing.

Apart from that, there is lots demand. If you're an experienced dev,
but lack experience in Ruby and Rails, go for medium sized companies,
who can afford to bring you up to speed. Also, do chase them up, it
shows you're eager, and they might thank you for it.

Good luck :)

Elise

On 27 November 2012 13:48, Anthony Gardner <notantspants at gmail.com> wrote:
> Sept 16th: I sent an initial email to LRUG looking for advice on how to go
> about looking for a job (which agencies etc.) as I am currently living in
> Holland but will be returning to the UK. I had a great response and made
> contact with a few companies that interested me.
>
> First company: after a few emails, I was waiting for a response to an email
> when I finally chased them up as to whether they had received it. They
> eventually got back to me and explained they had already filled the position
> and apologised for not getting back to me and leaving me waiting. For
> leaving me waiting, they said "[they] know it's really annoying when
> companies do that!"
>
> Little did I know what was in store for me in the coming months with regard
> to being left waiting.
>
> Second company: After making contact with them from Holland, we agreed to
> meet when I was over in London. We finally met for a coffee close to the
> City and had an hour long chat but I never heard anything back from them.
>
> Third company: After making contact with them from Holland, we agreed to
> meet when I was over in London. We finally met for a coffee close to the
> City and after an hour long chat, he asked me to send them some code
> examples and they would arrange for me to do a remote test where they could
> monitor how I work. I sent them some code examples the next day and heard
> nothing more from them.
>
> Fourth company: After making contact with them from Holland, they asked me
> to do a remote test. Based on the result of that test, we had an informal
> telephone interview and based on that, they asked me to come to their
> offices for a face-to-face.
>
> I arrived on time for the interview and that was a s good as it got. I was
> walked into an office by the guy who finally came to get me from reception,
> and there was a laptop on the table and another guy standing next to it.
>
> I was told that I was at the computer and that we were going to add to the
> program I had sent them a month earlier. I was sandwiched between these two
> guys and doing my first ever pair programming, using my first ever Mac, and
> using Text Mate for the first time.
>
> To say it was a complete and utter disaster would be an understatement. Not
> only could I not use the keyboard, the test coverage I sent them only
> covered the bits they were specific about in the test. I deleted all other
> tests which I would now need!! After 30mins of me faffing around, and
> trembling, and a blank mind and a total bag of nerves, we decided to call it
> a day. They offered to reschedule the interview but I said to them that if
> they wanted to email me tomorrow with a thanks but no thanks, then I was
> happy with that. They sent me the Thanks but no thanks email and I was okay
> with that.
>
> Surely putting people at ease is an important aspect of interviews. Drinking
> a coffee, show them around a bit, explain what the next 2 hours would have
> in store, chew the fat, get to know each other. But no, let's sandwich this
> guy on a computer and get him working. I don't want to work for a company
> that does that.
>
> First agency: After talking to this agency that specialises in Ruby work, I
> heard a lot of "cool" and "awesome" but nothing else. He said he would send
> me some jobs through and even after I chased him up, I heard nothing back.
>
> Second agency: After talking to this agency that specialises in Ruby work, I
> sent him my CV only to be told it "was corrupt and unreadable" and that he
> couldn't open it. I had to convert my "corrupt" ODT file to a MS Doc file.
>
> He did put me forward for a top job which I knew was totally out of my
> league but fortunately it never came off as they had filled the position.
> But I didn't hear anything else from him. And still haven't.
>
> So LRUGers, I have some questions for you. Firstly, is it normal for
> companies not to get back to you. I was severely disappointed with that
> behaviour.
>
> Pair programming: I am totally upfront with my experience with Rails and the
> fact that I haven't used it in industry, so no pair programming experience
> for me. What am I to do if companies insist on a pair programming exercise
> or just looking over my shoulder while I code. That really would not bring
> out the best of me as I would be a bag of nerves. Particularly after my
> first experience of doing that in an interview environment.
>
> I think pair programming sounds like a good idea but for a test interview,
> it wouldn't suit me. I would really have to feel comfortable and know the
> people I'm doing it with.
>
> What tips can you give me for finding the right job?
>
> I have since been offered a job here in Holland but I have turned it down as
> I am returning to the UK in December - even though I don't have a job. So I
> am employable and I will renew my efforts in the New Year. But if it's more
> of the same, then I'm not hopeful for the future.
>
> -Anthony
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