I do technical interviews for tretton37 pretty regularly. I’m so used to doing them online now that I can’t even really remember what it felt like to do it the other way, physically in the same room with a candidate and my co-interviewer. Although I know for sure that that’s the way they used to be done.

I take notes on paper. Sloppily, sometimes missing the end of some words, because my main focus is elsewhere. There’s no way I could type while interviewing – it just gets too distracting. But afterwards I type up proper notes in a template we have.

My pre-interview prep includes setting myself up with 4 sheets of A4 paper, a pen, one large glass of water, and proper lighting. Two hours of talking – even though I’m not the one doing most of the talking, by far – is thirsty work.

Halfway through this interview I could already feel the lack of energy in the room, and see my colleague struggling not to yawn. A clear sign that this wasn’t going anywhere.