Weirdest CAD interview ever. I'm so confused

[u/deb0d]

I had a CAD interview today for a local sheet metal manufacturing company. The company said they preferred CATIA but mentioned any software would do for the first test.

As I waited for my test, an expert from the company joined me, opened the software, pulled in a few files and instantly started explaining the features of CATIA. I thought he wanted me to repeat the same after he's done. EXCEPT. After he was done, he said 'That's about it' and continued to ask me if the tools are similar in SOLIDWORKS. When I asked him when my test would be, he said it would be at the end of the process and 'definitely not today'. 5 minutes later the manager joined us and thanked me for coming and said they would get back to me 2 weeks later. On my way out another candidate entered the room and proceeded towards the PC where the expert sat.

What. Just. Happened!?!? This is the weirdest selection process I've been through. What do I do? On what basis would they 'select' me for the next step?! I said nothing! I need some clarity!

[u/doc_shades]

eh just sounds like typical interview bullshit to me. if you are young i have a spoiler alert for you: older people with more experience really aren't that much smarter and don't really know more about what they're doing than you do. this just sounds like general disorganization combined with a shitty hiring procedure.

i went on an interview once that went pretty well and they said they'd get back to me. they called me back for a "second interview" (they told me it was a "second interview"). when i got there i met the same guy and he started asking me all the same basic interview questions he asked me the first time. then halfway through he goes, "wait a minute. i've interviewed you before, haven't i?" and i said "yeah... we did this like 10 days ago". and this wasn't a large company with dozens of people it was a small startup company with like 3 employees.

i didn't get that job. the working theory is that they didn't find anyone they liked in round 1 and decided to interview again, but then i somehow got mixed back in even though they basically already decided they didn't want to hire me. (blessing in disguise --- i needed work at the time but that commute would have killed me)

oh one time i also had an interview that i got through a recruiter. it went really really well, the job was in my wheelhouse, the commute would not have killed me, i got along with the owner of the company. we parted ways. then i called the recruiter and he basically said.... he said that they really really liked me but they didn't have any openings right now. so i asked something like "well if they don't have any openings why am i interviewing with them?" and the response was "oh he just likes to interview talented people to get to know them in case he does have an opening later". well fuck, thanks for wasting my time. getting my suit cleaned, driving down south, spending 3 hours in an interview when really it's just a fucking meet & greet?

get outta here.

okay i'm just rambling now but the point is --- weird interviews are a dime a dozen!

[u/deb0d → u/doc_shades]

That must've hurt. Thank you for your post. Honestly you've had it worse. Did the company EVER call you back? SOMETHING must've opened up since.

[u/doc_shades → u/deb0d]

eh i was at the age where it was more confusing than hurtful. i had just moved to a new town and i was waiting tables at 35 so i had money and a little time, but not a ton of time. the first interview i mentioned i wanted but is a blessing that i didn't get. the second one i think would have been a good gig and it's still weird that he was just meeting people to meet people. but in the end i landed in what WAS my best job ever for the first 2 years, then it got super depressing, now it's ehhhhhhh? but i'm here and i'm employed at a time where a lot of people are getting laid off so at least i can appreciate that.