A couple of years ago I had an interview with a startup in Japan.
The CTO just wouldn't stop speaking (very fast) and barely let me speak or even heard me. This was first red flag to me.
At some point he asked me very distinctly "If you join, you will work with engineers that are way smarter than you, is that OK with you?".
I was startled by this question and felt quite insulted by it. The conversation basically went south when I answered something like "Well, I'd sincerely love to get such experience because as far as I remember it has always been the other way around when it comes to engineering.".
Now don't get me wrong, I am usually doing my best to stay humble and open minded, and comparing people or bragging around is not something I normally do or consider appropriate.
But I am also a proud and very good engineer gifted by the ability to learn, understand and visualize things very quickly. I have been passionately honing my skills and learning everyday for more than 15 years. And as a human being, I would absolutely defend my pride it if someone attacks it.
I think it's only natural to feel bad about such situation, but the interview not working is not always your own fault.
The CTO just wouldn't stop speaking (very fast) and barely let me speak or even heard me. This was first red flag to me.
At some point he asked me very distinctly "If you join, you will work with engineers that are way smarter than you, is that OK with you?". I was startled by this question and felt quite insulted by it. The conversation basically went south when I answered something like "Well, I'd sincerely love to get such experience because as far as I remember it has always been the other way around when it comes to engineering.".
Now don't get me wrong, I am usually doing my best to stay humble and open minded, and comparing people or bragging around is not something I normally do or consider appropriate.
But I am also a proud and very good engineer gifted by the ability to learn, understand and visualize things very quickly. I have been passionately honing my skills and learning everyday for more than 15 years. And as a human being, I would absolutely defend my pride it if someone attacks it.
I think it's only natural to feel bad about such situation, but the interview not working is not always your own fault.