Sales Recruiter recently contacted me on Linkedin for a Sr. SE role. She and I spoke, but I insisted I was fit for another role and she insisted back that I wasn't fit, but she said she liked my tenacity so she took a chance on me and set me up for a phone screen with the Manager. The Manager also said I didn't have the exact experience for this role, but there's something about me that he likes so he brought me in. They have an amazing office and a really great team who have a great balance in grilling you to make sure you're a fit, yet making sure you feel welcome too. In the end, the team liked me even though I wasn't a fit like the Recruiter said, but I appreciated her for getting me that far and taking a chance. She said she'd stay in touch because they do open new positions or even create positions for people who they really want in the company, which is something really rare. I thought she was just saying that to be nice, but a few weeks later, she called me back to come in for another role that they just created and she thought I was a great fit! I'm still in the process, but whatever happens, I can actually say this company really does go above and beyond for their candidates. My Recruiter even kept me in the loop throughout the process by texting me and it was very convenient. Hoping to get my foot in the door of this great company soon or in the future!

Be prepared for a long day of interviews. The positive to that is the actual process of first contact to finding out if you get offered the job is short and painless. If you can withstand meeting a handful of personable, intelligent potential colleagues and impress them, you will be on the right path.