Linux Academy Interview Questions
& Process

So I had a screening call with HR, which was nice. Then they set up a technical interview with the VP of Software Engineering. Funny thing is, she seemed more into finding a Ruby developer than a security person. She even told this story about another candidate who was super experienced in software but didn't get the job because they didn't have exactly what she was looking for. It felt like she was hinting the same about me, which was kinda condescending, you know? And then... radio silence. Ghosted. Since it's a new team, it really makes me wonder if they even know what they need for security.

I had a really good feeling about Linux Academy at first. The HR folks I spoke with were amazing, seriously, they could teach a masterclass in recruiting! The first manager I met was great, and so were the two executives I met later on - they seemed like awesome people to work with. But that's where the positive vibe ended. My biggest issue is when companies take you deep into final interviews, making you feel like you're a perfect fit, but they never intended to hire you. If you already had 'higher qualified individuals' or if 'the job wasn't a fit for your profile' as that denial email said, then stick with those candidates and don't give someone false hope. It sounds like they had their minds made up before the final interviews even started. It's not cool to string someone along, especially when you drag out the process for over a month and they put in extra time preparing presentations and documents. Plus, the feedback they gave in the denial email was just not true. Maybe they mixed me up with someone else, but they made these big assumptions based on a few quick questions without letting me explain properly because of time limits. I get that they need to assess you, but if you have concerns or need more info about my experience, that's what the interviews are for, not for making wild guesses afterward. So yeah, while I liked the company and the people initially, their final actions in the hiring process really left a bad taste in my mouth.

The interview process started with a phone interview and then moved to an on-site interview. I was supposed to meet with four leaders, but only two showed up. They asked me scenario-based questions, and dug deeper into topics from the phone interview. The meeting lasted almost two hours, and I got to ask my own questions. I prepped by doing two of their courses, making a 30-60-90 day plan and a playbook outline, and watching their YouTube videos. I sent thank you emails and a follow-up to HR, but got no response at all, not even a rejection. I put in a lot of prep time and got ghosted.

I applied online and the Recruiter from Linux Academy reached out for a first phone chat about the company, role, and my background. Two weeks after that, I spoke with the Brand Manager over the phone, going deeper into the role and my experience. A week later, I went to Keller, TX for a final interview day where I met the Brand Manager, the Marketing Team, and the CPO. It was surprisingly comfortable! LA's interview process is pretty simple, and they were good at keeping me in the loop. Glad I joined!