This was a ML focused applied scientist role in their security team. The hiring manager was a douchebag. Typical IIT+IIM smart ass, not an engineering manager but a product manager who manages engineers and scientists in the group. Had a initial phone call and invited me on-site. No technical questions on ML in phone interview. During on-site I was asked to give presentations on security focused work in ML. They were trying to get ideas. The entire session was a brain rape. This same hiring manager brain raped another former co-worker of mine. He also approached another co-worker who is one of the smartest person I have worked with. He called him a purple squirrel. Fortunately he was smart enough to know this hiring manager was a douche and refused interview. None of the team members knew any ML. They were just trying to interview experienced candidates to brain rape them.
Can we just call it idea thieving? I have seen this interview practice before, mostly by desperate, failing startups.
Even worse things happen like giving take home assignments to get their work done for free. Fortunately I have realized to say no to such requirements.
I am not surprised at this idea thieving. I was naive early on and later learned that's how companies get ideas without being serious about hiring. It's a fine line and we all techies need to be careful. I went thru 2 PM phone interviews with two different groups at VMware. Same bs smart ass IIT IIM guys. Didn't get thru beyond that round.
You’d put his name here so that we can blind shame him: 😝
Wow wtf that's fucked up.
Years ago I interviewed with VMware. Had similar experience.
The BU is Security Products Group.
Had similar experience with VMWare years ago. One of the interviewers was from IIT, there were two people on the call. Seems like a regular practice?
Indian guy PM lead likely
What the fuck are you talking about?
Brain rape was popularized by the show silicon valley. Op is alleging they only want to interview people so they can steal ideas.
My friend's wife had a PM interview with VMware and had the same "brain rape" experience. Was at Google previously.