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Comment by caffeine | Hacker News Reader

I think the most valuable thing to know about interviewing is: go in to interviews already holding a job offer.

So to be clear I'm saying: interview at companies you don't like until you get an offer.

THEN rush the recruiters at companies you do like to get you scheduled quickly, because you are holding an offer and they don't want to miss out.

This lights recruiters and hiring managers on fire. It makes sure you have practiced enough to succeed. It destresses the interview for you since you have a backup.

It is the ultimate and most powerful interviewing technique.

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Adding to this, schedule your interviews from least desired role to most desired. You will get a ton of practice interviewing and white boarding, and have offers in hand before you interview at your goal role. This is doubly true if your goal role ends up having an exploding offer.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like there would a substantial amount of luck involved in getting schedules and offers to line up just right like this.

IMO as a practical matter the way to manage this is to have an a active pipeline and manage your callendar to pull the B-grade opportunities earlier and push out the A-grade opportunities. Telling a recruiter “I am actively talking to a couple other companies” is usually an accelerant and seeds FOMO.

So, I agree with you that it takes some luck. But good strategy makes you ready for whatever luck happens. Play backgammon, not chess.

> good strategy makes you ready for whatever luck happens

Yes, I agree that attempting to schedule things in this manner is better than not, should you find yourself able to do so. But, I don't agree with the parent comment that it is "the ultimate and most powerful interviewing technique". Scheduling by preference is moot if (1) you don't have a resume/background that lands interviews in the first place and (2) you don't have the chops to be successful in technical rounds.

Apparently if you spend all your time either working or interviewing, even at places you don't want to wind up, it'll all just come together perfectly because that's all your schedule is.

These threads get depressing real fast.

I've done the opposite; I got an offer, but was still interviewing, and I let the recruiter know, and that I'd be willing to sign within 24 hours if they add on a signing bonus. You obviously have to do some math on the EV and consider how inconvenient interviewing is.

> This lights recruiters and hiring managers on fire.

Not always. Sometimes it has a repulsive effect. Like trying to score a first date when you're already flaunting the fact that you're engaged to someone else.

> Not always. Sometimes it has a repulsive effect. Like trying to score a first date when you're already flaunting the fact that you're engaged to someone else.

In what universe is this an acceptable analogy for anything?

Edit: Make sure to include the quote.

Are you offended by the analogy in some way?

I don't know much about dating. My advice is about interviewing. I think it's completely different.

Also your analogy is wrong - you are suggesting to go interview after you accept an offer, which I agree is off-putting.

I am suggesting to go interview after you receive an offer but before you accept it.

As a hiring manager, it comes down to how good this person seems on her resume. If she's just ok I don't rush.

Besides FOMO this has the added benefit of boosting your own confidence. You already successfully interviewed once and you are more relaxed.

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