I was in Amsterdam from June 5th to 8th, primarily for an interview with an unnamed company. Basically it was just like the last time I had an interview in Norway**. It was quite good timing as well since the last time I was there in 2013 I didn't get to see much of the city as it was just stop overs, but this time I actually got to stay a few nights and actually explore.
June 5th My interview time was scheduled for 12:30pm and I landed in Amsterdam at 11am but didn't pick up my luggage until 11:40am. So I emailed the team leader and told her I was probably going to be late since my interview was at 12:30pm and it would take me a minimum of 45 minutes to get there from the airport. What happened after that, well… I took the wrong train, and had to get off and take another one. Then of course I ended up walking to the wrong building and so I was about 45 minutes late. On top of that, the team leader was on leave, so my recruiter didn’t know what happened to me, she tried ringing me but I was too busy trying to walk as fast as I could pulling my luggage that I didn’t realise until I got into the building what happened. The recruiter rang the hotel and I wasn’t there and of course she didn’t hear from the team leader either!
Of course, it was also the hottest day in 5 years, so by the time I arrived I was already sweating like I was in the desert. So in the end the interview didn’t really start until 1:30pm. There were 4 rounds.
Round 1 - Talked to two team leaders, technical questions mainly… nothing I couldn’t handle, we even had time for small talk. One guy’s from Croatia and the other Bulgaria.
Round 2 - Talked to two developers, also technical questions. One was from Columbia and the other from Israel.
Round 3 - Talked to a manager, business related questions He’s from Mexico.
Round 4 - Not really a round, but this was just a normal talk with the recruiter, I had talked to her before anyway so this was normal HR questions.
Anyway I was quite relieved after that, went back to the hotel. But anyway after that I looked for a place to eat, and I ended up at a Tapas place which was really nice, and then I went to watch “Spy” in the cinema, it’s REALLY funny anyone who hasn't seen it, needs to watch it. I didn't get to sleep until after 1am.
Some night photos, I didn't take many photos today since half the time I was rushing like mad.
** If you want to know my opinion on interviews, basically, they're worse than a lottery. Frankly the whole interview process needs to be revolutionised, behind the scenes from people that I know candidates have been rejected for their looks to being accepted for having the same birthday as the boss, but of course this is never politically correct to say so basically some excuse is invented for rejection. I stand by this even though I have been accepted for interviews which I've passed which is why I also consider it a small miracle having being accepted here even though I applied on a whim.
June 5th My interview time was scheduled for 12:30pm and I landed in Amsterdam at 11am but didn't pick up my luggage until 11:40am. So I emailed the team leader and told her I was probably going to be late since my interview was at 12:30pm and it would take me a minimum of 45 minutes to get there from the airport. What happened after that, well… I took the wrong train, and had to get off and take another one. Then of course I ended up walking to the wrong building and so I was about 45 minutes late. On top of that, the team leader was on leave, so my recruiter didn’t know what happened to me, she tried ringing me but I was too busy trying to walk as fast as I could pulling my luggage that I didn’t realise until I got into the building what happened. The recruiter rang the hotel and I wasn’t there and of course she didn’t hear from the team leader either!
Of course, it was also the hottest day in 5 years, so by the time I arrived I was already sweating like I was in the desert. So in the end the interview didn’t really start until 1:30pm. There were 4 rounds.
Round 1 - Talked to two team leaders, technical questions mainly… nothing I couldn’t handle, we even had time for small talk. One guy’s from Croatia and the other Bulgaria.
Round 2 - Talked to two developers, also technical questions. One was from Columbia and the other from Israel.
Round 3 - Talked to a manager, business related questions He’s from Mexico.
Round 4 - Not really a round, but this was just a normal talk with the recruiter, I had talked to her before anyway so this was normal HR questions.
Anyway I was quite relieved after that, went back to the hotel. But anyway after that I looked for a place to eat, and I ended up at a Tapas place which was really nice, and then I went to watch “Spy” in the cinema, it’s REALLY funny anyone who hasn't seen it, needs to watch it. I didn't get to sleep until after 1am.
Some night photos, I didn't take many photos today since half the time I was rushing like mad.
Museumplein, in front of the Rijksmuseum.
Sign to the Van Gogh museum.
Concertgebouw.
** If you want to know my opinion on interviews, basically, they're worse than a lottery. Frankly the whole interview process needs to be revolutionised, behind the scenes from people that I know candidates have been rejected for their looks to being accepted for having the same birthday as the boss, but of course this is never politically correct to say so basically some excuse is invented for rejection. I stand by this even though I have been accepted for interviews which I've passed which is why I also consider it a small miracle having being accepted here even though I applied on a whim.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.