How many interviews is it taking you to get a job?

Question

I've received 100+ recruiter calls in the last month, had about 10 tel screens, 5 in-person interviews. Finally landed a short-term gig. This was in the Seattle market for C#/.Net. What has your experience been?

Answer 1

it took methree application-mails to get three interviews and all wanted me so I chose the most attractive offer. this was last april in vienna, austria for a c# developer.

Answer 2

Hi, my experience have been that if I came wellprepared, by that i mean, studied the company, their needs, experience and arrive to the meeting in time and dress a with casual cloth ( checking how the company dresscode is ) and gave an enthuastic interview, then I was most of the time picked for the job.

For the phone interview, Steve Yegge have a good list to remember and use for preparing the phone interview.

Answer 3

Can tell about oDesk.com (freelancers job auction) experience. Could be useful for someone.

Typically only one interview: applied and got the job.

Even more. Last two times I was hired without interview at all.

This is really odd for me, but seems that reputation and previous feedback in action here. Consider it as a tip for freelancers.

Answer 4

Back when I was hiring developers in 2006 and 2007, here are some of the ratios I was experiencing:

• One phone screen was conducted for 5 resumes received
• One interview was conducted for 3 phone screens
• One offer was extended every 3 interviews
• One hire for each 2 offers extended

So, for any given filled positions, we were considering 90 candidates.

All of the offers we extended were to candidates working with recruitment agencies.

If you don't work with a recruiter, I suggest you identify one or more to help you. Ask around for recommendations. It does not cost you anything and I believe it would increase dramatically your chances. Good recruiters may introduce to less employers but they have inside information you don't have and they are well connected.

Recruiters know about jobs that are not adverstised or poorly advertised. They know the management. They sell for you. They give you advice.

When I switched jobs, none of the publicly advertised jobs panned out (did not even get an interview). The first job presented by the recruiter was a good match.

Answer 5

For 90% of the development population I would put the number at 2 interview per company before the yes/no was given.

I would think that 100 recruiter calls is high, I would suggest that 25 is more normal. So if you did all 25 and the last one gave you a job you are looking at 50 interviews.

If you don't waste your time and only go to the jobs that you are fit for/appeal to you you are probably going to 2 or 3 companies a month for 4-6 interviews a month.

Answer 6

I would say that it's difficult for me to get an interview. But if I get an interview, I am likely to be hired, due to my confidence in my technical skills, and ability to project enthusiasm and ambition.

Since I graduated from University, this is how my interviews went...

• First interview (success): I "bombed" it (interviewer asked if I knew who the CEO was and I said no... turns out the interviewer WAS THE CEO) but I passed on technical merits. Note to self: Read up about the company first.

• Second interview (success): This was during the Y2K era and the dotcom boom when anyone and everyone was being hired. I made it quite easily. (Confidence level going up.)

• Third interview (success): Was still on my second job, but I got an interesting offer from a recruiter. Followed up, and this time I was more confident and tried to focus on my interpersonal skills (I felt my technical skills were solid) during the presentation. Got accepted but I turned it down after current employer bumped my salary.

• Fourth interview (failure): Still on my second job. I get another interesting offer from a recruiter. Followed up, turns out I need to take a 4 hour ride to get to the interview... due to schedule delays I arrive 2 hours late. Interviewer is visibly disappointed. Interview doesn't get much better, as the interviewer's attitude looms over the whole process. Note to self: Be punctual.

• Fifth interview (success): I read a tech article about a job fair in town. I decide to give the job fair a try. Arriving in the last hour, most of the booths are closing shop. I find one booth still open, but the person says I'm "too young to have experience they're looking for". I tell them to give me a shot and they give me a technical test on the spot. They are extremely surprised by my answers and ask me to come in for an interview. During the interview, the same person goes on to say how awesome his company is and how I should work for them. I'm overwhelmed by his charisma and accept the job. (The job turns out to be hell) Note to self: Be more cautious when people use hype.

• Sixth interview (failure): After staying at the third job for 6 years, I decide it's time to move on. I follow up on a recruiter's offer and get interviewed. I pass the first interview, and meet with the CEO. I notice that the CEO has a stack of resumes on his table. On the top is a co-worker's resume. I truthfully tell the CEO that my co-worker is a great candidate for the job as well. Later on, my co-worker moves on to work for that company. Note to self: Stay focused on advertising yourself!

• Seventh interview (success): I read up about a local job fair and attend. I talk with 3 prospective booths. I get an offer from one of them and I accept.

Answer 7

I don't think the number of recruiter calls you (a candidate) is getting matters. Unlike real-estate, employment recruitment is not exclusive. The first recruiter to send your info to a company (and if you get and accept an offer from them) wins. Hence, you could have 100+ recruiters contacting you about the same position. In the current economy, the number of jobs have dried up, so all recruiters focus on the same jobs.

In my case, I had 10+ recruiters mentioning the same position for me, but I already interviewed directly with the company.

As for the interviews, it really depends on the market, the skills, the specialty, the competitiveness, etc. Some companies these days are also cutting down on onsites, so you would have multiple phone screens with the same company before going in.

Answer 8

Recruiter calls can be deceptive to my mind as sometimes they all want to apply someone for the same contract. Thus, while you may work with a handful of agencies, they are all for the same gig and one has to be careful to not be double-submitted for a position.

Typically for me there are at least 2-3 different positions with 2-3 interviews each before I'd get hired, if I got hired.

Note: This is what I've experienced more in Calgary, Alberta than Seattle, Washington although I did use some recruiters down in Seattle a few years ago.