Please note that due to the size of the company, this process may vary.

The interview came in three distinct phases, all conducted over the phone. I was referred to the company by an employee, so they seemed confident enough not to require an in-person interview before making a decision.

Phase 1 involved speaking with someone from the skills management department. This individual was a neutral party, unaffiliated with the department I would be interviewing with. They provided a brief overview of the company and the position. After confirming I was still interested, I proceeded to Phase 2.

Next was a discussion with the hiring manager. This was not technical at all; it was mostly a meet and greet for both parties. I was asked primarily about my background and why I wished to work for the company. The manager shared some details about how the department operates and what my responsibilities would be if I were to accept the offer.

Phase 3 was the technical interview. I had expected a number of whiteboard-style questions, but there was a distinct lack of them. I had already sent in code samples of a game that I had created previously. The most technical questions related to the reasons behind my design choices when developing the game's code. After that, the questions became more focused on my personal attributes, my passion for technology, and whether I truly enjoyed working in this field. Once the interviewer seemed satisfied with my ability, the conversation shifted from one-way questions to a more free-flowing discussion to assess my potential fit with the team. Shortly after this interview, the hiring manager called to inform me that an offer would soon be extended.

The experience was very positive.

What was most unexpected was the lack of typical whiteboard-style programming questions, in favor of other topics.