After giving my resume to a recruiter at my university's job fair, Epic contacted me and scheduled a phone interview. It was very easy, just questions to confirm what was already on my resume. They called again for a follow-up and then extended the offer to interview on-site. Very accommodating, they paid for everything, seemed to be decently organized, etc.

I had already read a bit about the company online and I admit I had my reservations and suspicions. Went out to dinner with two company representatives who were actually quite insufferable, and the whole time I was fighting the overwhelming urge to run away screaming.

Things improved the next day, though--the on-site interview process was fun. Really. It didn't feel like I was being grilled for info, but rather I had a pleasant conversation with my recruiter, representatives from each of the positions I was applying for, and another interviewer.

However.

The vibe WAS intensely cult-like; the giant buildings felt like holding tanks. It felt isolated, and the excessive enthusiasm creeped me out, especially because the people I talked to admitted to working 50+ hours a week. Indeed, on one of the chalkboards we passed in the hallway, a current employee had written "don't drink the kool-aid". It was hidden under some other writing; the janitorial staff must have missed that one.

I think the truth of the company is probably somewhere between the accounts of the raving fans and the angry ex-employees. I was actually pretty disappointed to not receive an offer, just because of how much energy and investment I had put into the interview process. But who knows.

An apple costs 10 cents and an orange costs 5 cents. How much does a pear cost?