I contacted them cold intrigued by the company reviews and their standings in local employer rankings. And their location. I was granted an interview quickly with some paperwork sent via email to fill out and bring with me. Interview was relaxed and the 2 interviewers (one technical, one from HR) were nice, friendly and very positive about the company. At times perhaps too positive. As I asked questions, the answers took much of the shine off of the first impression I had developed. Interview was followed by a computer based test, logic and math-based. The math was unexpected. Well, the kind of story problems you are asked to answer seemed unusual. And there were many. A couple were simple; but then there were the solve-for-2-variables ones that, as a one-time math whiz, I thought would be easy. Yes, honors math always, pre-calc in high school and the trend continued through college. But that all was awhile ago now and interestingly, working as an experienced successful dev in the industry for many years, I've never ONCE (that I can remember) had to solve a 2-variable math problem. Not since school. I'm sure I could have re-mastered the techniques quickly, but not in the middle of a timed test with many of these questions and low motivation. With time flying by and an overall lack of interest, I left the test pretty early with many of the questions not answered. Back at my current job I asked a younger, smart coworker to solve the problem revolving around loose change. He gave me an answer a short time later. He simply put together a spreadsheet and poked numbers to figure it out. Cheater! HINT: If you are going to interview here, actually practice beforehand solving for problems with 2 or more variables. Back to my initial perception vs. reality. The company does rank high in local polls and even with the minimal reviews here. It IS a beautiful campus with seemingly nice and happy employees there. I believe I am trying to leave an environment that is quite a bit better so this wasn't the company for me (even if I had mastered The Test). PTO was fixed and not generous. Worse, the building is open fixed hours (from memory, 8-5) and there is no coming in early to leave early or late/late. There is no working weekends, which some will take as a great thing, but you can't trade working a weekend day in trade for another. And there is no working from home. This seemed very odd in this day and age and was a show-stopper for me. Massive snowstorm? Figure out how to get to the office. My interviewers raved about the benefits and generosity of the company/owner. However, when I mentally compared it to what I would be leaving, it would be a downgrade. If interested in this company, interview and decide for yourself. Ask many questions and make sure you form a clear picture for yourself, working past the enthusiasm of the interviewers.

Applied online and a few days later received an email where I was I invited make an appointment to come in and take the assessment exam. I know bombed too many of the assessment questions due to not having done basic algebra equations for decades. But it was a pleasant experience as far as these things go. And the facility is a really nice space to be in.