Comment by jama211
1 day ago
I’ve written manual SQL for years in previous roles, but because I haven’t touched it in 6 months I’d have had to double check how to write that with a quick google. It’s just a bad interview technique to require write learned syntax.
I agree but lots of companies do similar things in their interview processes so we just have to know everything I guess.
What’s more likely is you get lucky one day and the company that hires you is the one that happens to have asked you the questions you brushed up on recently, rather than the company that’s the best fit.
Or if you have the luxury to choose, which can happen later in your software engineering career, you can simply turn down companies with bad interview processes. Personally I’m a fan of this method, but it’s a luxury for sure.
I've been fortunate in that I haven't had to do a formal interview for any job I've ever had, except for my first job. I've just been working either with people with whom I've worked, or referrals of those people. I know that's an extremely privileged place to be, but it's the best place to be IMO.