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Re:Tech sector job interviews assess anxiety, not software s... by arethuza on Thursday July 16, 2020 @05:59AM (#23857397)
I learned this lesson a few years back when I interviewed for the CTO role of a educational software company - the main part of the interview was preparing a presentation on how to launch a new product which I had to prepare and present to the management team.

That went very well and I was feeling pretty good.

Then the CEO had a quick chat and happened to ask me a very simple technical question and my brain would not work - I completely failed to do it even though it was trivial.

I think that's how I discovered that mental context switching is a real thing - I had spent a few hours preparing and giving a presentation and then when asked a simple technical question those parts of my brain were completely offline. I think the shock of not being able to do it had a big effect on me and I went to bits (possibly the first time I've ever done that).

Re:Tech sector job interviews assess anxiety, not software s... by touristtam on Thursday July 16, 2020 @09:53AM (#23858995)
> I think that's how I discovered that mental context switching is a real thing

You had to go to that level to understand that? I am glad you did realize it, but I am surprised it was that late in your career.

Re:Tech sector job interviews assess anxiety, not software s... by arethuza on Thursday July 16, 2020 @10:03AM (#23859078)
I'd probably heard about it but I'd never had it really hit me like that before.
Re:Tech sector job interviews assess anxiety, not software s... by cutemonster on Thursday July 16, 2020 @05:00PM (#23863752)
How did the CEO react / say? If I may ask