1. UCF
Engineering
Chris Logan

2. Real Interview Question
Why do software engineers
always confuse Halloween
with Christmas?
Because OCT 31 = DEC 25

3. Three Interview Behaviors
• Preparation
• Execution
• Decision

4. Interview Question 1
How can you cut a cake into
8 equal size slices with three
straight cuts of a standard
knife?

5. Preparation
• Skills and experience qualification

6. Skills Matrix
Job 1 Job 2 Class 1 Class 2 Project 1
Java
C#
Oracle
HTML
JavaScript

7. Skills Matrix
Job 1 Job 2 Class 1 Class 2 Project 1
Java   
C#  
Oracle  
HTML   
JavaScript

8. Skills Matrix
Job 1 Job 2 Class 1 Class 2 Project 1
Java   
C#  
Oracle  
HTML   
JavaScript Gap

9. Preparation
• Skills and experience qualification
• Interview landscape
• Forgotten critical skills

10. Interview Skills Study Guide
1. Algorithms
1. Search
2. Sort
2. Java
1. Synchronization
1. Explain different ways of using a thread - A Java thread could be
implemented by using Runnable interface or by extending the
Thread class. The Runnable is more advantageous, when you are
going for multiple inheritance.
3. Tools
1. Build
2. Text Manipulation

11. Interview Question 2
A man dies, and is buried on
the outskirts of the city, on a
hill, under a tree facing west.
Why?

12. Execution
• Problem solving
• Skills
• Self-organization
• Communications

13. Interview Question 3
You are shrunk to the size of
dime and placed in a
blender. You have one
minute until it turns on and
cuts you to pieces. How will
you escape?

14. Decision
• Develop a Decision Scorecard

15. Decision Scorecard
Job Salary Commute Gas Vac Wks Vac Value Med OOP Misc. Exp. Net Comp % Incr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Cost of Gasoline $3.50
Average Automobile MPG 30
Baseline Compensation $50,000

16. Decision Scorecard
Job Salary Commute Gas Vac Wks Vac Value Med OOP Misc. Exp. Net Comp % Incr
1 60,000
2 52,000
3 55,000
4 50,000
5 51,000
6 48,000
7 49,000
Cost of Gasoline $3.50
Average Automobile MPG 30
Baseline Compensation $50,000

17. Decision Scorecard
Job Salary Commute Gas Vac Wks Vac Value Med OOP Misc. Exp. Net Comp % Incr
1 60,000 60 1,820
2 52,000 30 910
3 55,000 - -
4 50,000 - -
5 51,000 60 1,820
6 48,000 60 1,820
7 49,000 50 1,517
Cost of Gasoline $3.50
Average Automobile MPG 30
Baseline Compensation $50,000

18. Calculations
• Gas=(Daily Commute/MPG)*Cost of Gas * 260

19. Decision Scorecard
Job Salary Commute Gas Vac Wks Vac Value Med OOP Misc. Exp. Net Comp % Incr
1 60,000 60 1,820 - -
2 52,000 30 910 2 2,000
3 55,000 - - - -
4 50,000 - - 2 1,923
5 51,000 60 1,820 2 1,962
6 48,000 60 1,820 2 1,846
7 49,000 50 1,517 - -
Cost of Gasoline $3.50
Average Automobile MPG 30
Baseline Compensation $50,000

20. Calculations
• Gas=(Daily Commute/MPG)*Cost of Gas * 260
• Vacation Value = (Salary / 52)*Vacation Weeks

21. Decision Scorecard
Job Salary Commute Gas Vac Wks Vac Value Med OOP Misc. Exp. Net Comp % Incr
1 60,000 60 1,820 - - - -
2 52,000 30 910 2 2,000 1,200 -
3 55,000 - - - - 1,100 3,000
4 50,000 - - 2 1,923 1,500 -
5 51,000 60 1,820 2 1,962 900 -
6 48,000 60 1,820 2 1,846 950 -
7 49,000 50 1,517 - - 1,050 -
Cost of Gasoline $3.50
Average Automobile MPG 30
Baseline Compensation $50,000

22. Calculations
• Gas=(Daily Commute/MPG)*Cost of Gas * 260
• Vacation Value = (Salary / 52)*Vacation Weeks
• Med OOP = Medical Plan Premiums + Estimated
costs
• Misc Exp = Any expenses expected to fulfill job

23. Decision Scorecard
Job Salary Commute Gas Vac Wks Vac Value Med OOP Misc. Exp. Net Comp % Incr
1 60,000 60 1,820 - - - - 58,180 16%
2 52,000 30 910 2 2,000 1,200 - 51,890 4%
3 55,000 - - - - 1,100 3,000 50,900 2%
4 50,000 - - 2 1,923 1,500 - 50,423 1%
5 51,000 60 1,820 2 1,962 900 - 50,242 0%
6 48,000 60 1,820 2 1,846 950 - 47,076 -6%
7 49,000 50 1,517 - - 1,050 - 46,433 -7%
Cost of Gasoline $3.50
Average Automobile MPG 30
Baseline Compensation $50,000

24. Calculations
• Gas=(Daily Commute/MPG)*Cost of Gas * 260
• Vacation Value = (Salary / 52)*Vacation Weeks
• Med OOP = Medical Plan Premiums + Estimated
costs
• Misc Exp = Any expenses expected to fulfill job
• Net Comp = Salary + Vacation Value –Gas – Med
OOP – Misc. Exp.

25. Decision
• Develop a Decision Scorecard
• Extended scorecard - track job search status and
next actions

26. Decision Scorecard
(Extended)
Company Position Type Last Update Next Action Travel Status
WebSphere Interview likely w/o
Company 1 Developer CON 9/27 100% 10/1
Enterprise
Company 2 Architect FT 9/1 50%Dead
Technical
Company 3 Architect CON 9/27 9/28 0%Phone interview 9/28
Solution Verbal offer extended,
Company 4 Architect FT 9/27 9/26 25% negotiating
Delivery
Company 5 Lead FT 9/24 0%Had initial discussion
Sr. Systems Lead recruiter
Company 6 Architect FT 9/27 100% discussion
Software
Company 7 Engineer III FT 9/25 9/26 0%Dead

27. Decision
• Develop a Decision Scorecard
• Use an extended scorecard
• Taking into account the non-empirical aspects

28. Answers to Interview
Questions

29. Interview Question 1
• How can you cut a cake into 8
equal size slices with three
straight cuts of a standard
knife?
• Cut the cake vertically into
quadrants, then one horizontal
cut across the whole cake

30. Interview Question 2
•A man dies, and is buried on
the outskirts of the city, on a
hill, under a tree facing west.
Why?
•The cemetery is located
here

31. Interview Question 3
•You are shrunk to the size of
dime and placed in a
blender. You have one
minute until it turns on and
cuts you to pieces. How will
you escape?
•Think insects…

32. Thank you for your time
and attention