Applied online and a recruiter contacted via email. They did a phone screen but they didn't really do the right job in terms of figuring out what my Javascript level is. After the friendly but non-technical "tech screen" they asked for an on-site. The entire job is about Javascript. During the in person interview they mentioned they have a "new stack" that's based off of node.js and angular, in a move away from JSP. It wasn't the most professional way to do things since I had to use PTO in order to go in person, when they could have determined my JS level over the phone. If you have node.js on your resume they'll grill you on node and if you have angular, then they'll ask about that. Overall if you put a price on your PTO, and you don't get the offer, then you're paying out of pocket for the experience even though they could have done a better job on the technical phone screen.

I applied for the Front-end Engineer position online after seeing the job posting on Indeed.com. I was first contacted by their Senior Recruiter by email asking me to set up a time to have a quick phone interview. During the phone call I was asked why I was leaving my current job and to describe my current role and skill set. He then told me he would set up a technical interview with their Principal Software Engineer based in California. The phone call lasted about 15-20 minutes. The technical interview happened a couple of days later. He asked me questions about web optimization, Ajax, and a few Javascript questions although he was aware I only had working experience with Javascript. Once in awhile he would ask a short question such as, "How do you tell the browser what language you're using?". This interview lasted about half an hour. I was contacted by the Senior Recruiter about a few days later to set up a time for an in person interview in Norwalk, CT where their main office is. I called him back a couple of hours later and had to leave a message. He didn't call me back until a day or two later. I was sent an email with information about what would happen during the interview and how long I should expect it to last. I was given driving directions. He also provided a link to a PDF file that I had to print out and bring with me all filled out. It was a standard employment form (very similar to the one I filled out years ago when applying to work for Bed Bath & Beyond for a retail position). I arrived for my interview about 15 minutes early. The Senior Recruiter told me to ask for him at the security desk in the lobby. The security guard called his phone but he didn't pick up. The Director was standing on the second floor landing and yelled down that she would escort me up. It turned out the recruiter wasn't back from lunch yet and I waited in a small office for a few minutes until a group of developers and a UI manager entered and interviewed me. They were my favorite group of people and I thought I did well with them. Afterwards two separate developers came in and interviewed me. They initially wanted me to go up to a whiteboard and work on some Ajax related problems but being that I didn't have any real working experience with Ajax this exercise was skipped. They asked me to describe my coding practices in detail and also asked me how I would improve their current website. Questions even ventured into design territory since I've done web design work in the past and also majored in Art while in college. I was told if I were to be hired I could expect to commute to Norwalk, CT for training (this could take anywhere between a week to a month) and then I would be placed in their Manhattan office where I was intending to work. Their working hours were very attractive to me--9-5 but you can show up at 11 if you want. You have the option of working from home often. I was supposed to have met with the recruiter after the last group of developers but he was still not back from lunch (a holiday lunch apparently). The Director was nice enough to show me to their break room so I could have some water while I waited for the recruiter to return. I probably waited about 15-20 minutes until he finally came. My conversation with him was very brief and it felt a little rushed. I handed over the papers I had to fill out. He told me a bit more about the company. I told him I didn't have a chance to ask for anyone's business cards and he told me he would email me all of their contact information so I could follow up with them. He informed me I wouldn't hear from them until after the holidays. He didn't email me that evening and I assumed he would the next day (a Friday). Friday came and went, he didn't email me any contact information, and unfortunately it was the last day before Christmas vacation. After I wasn't contacted the day after New Years Day I gave him a call. He didn't answer so I left a message. He never called me back and later in the afternoon the next day I received a robotic rejection letter from him. I was shocked to receive a rejection email because I was under the impression that I performed well during my interview and got along well with everyone. I hope it had nothing to do with me not following up with the people who interviewed me because I was definitely intending to do so but like I said the recruiter was of no help in that department. I even went so far as to search for the few people's names I could remember on LinkedIn to send an "InMail" message but no such luck because I wasn't already within their network.