I was contacted directly by Riot Games recruiters to see if I would be interested in discussing what is essentially a Development Manager position. This involved managing a team of developers through the software development process. The position was something reminiscent of my early days in this field. However, I decided to explore further what Riot has to offer.

The interview consisted of a number of phone calls, each lasting one to two hours. Nothing spectacular, nothing that really delved into my background or capabilities. It seemed very ad hoc and amateurish. After all the phone interviews, I was invited to meet in person.

The in-person interview process was a group/panel interview. Most companies have long dismissed this type of process as ineffective. Such was the case with this interview. While person #1 was asking a question, person #2 was not listening or formulating their own question. Had person #2 been listening, they would have heard the answer and maintained the context of the conversation. Basically, the group/panel interview was a joke – very easy, nothing that allowed me to convey my experience. At times, I had to take control of the interview process to convey information as it pertained to my relevant skills and experience. It became obvious that this is a popularity contest, and if you blink, nod, and breathe in sync, then you are a perfect candidate for Riot Games.

The overall in-person interview took about an hour and a half. I was no more informed of the exact nature of the role and responsibilities than I was when I was first contacted by Riot Games.

Do you play games? What sort of games do you like?