Should I cancel my interview?

Question

I have an interview with a company where I would very much like to work. I was planning on taking a month or two to prepare (while having a full time job), but a recruiter happened to contact me before I started prep. I scheduled the interview out two weeks, but I do not feel well prepared. There are algorithms and design sessions during this interview.If I pass the interview, I feel it will be by sheer luck. (getting problems I'm familiar with)This is a medium to large sized start-up.If I go through with the interview and do poorly, I have no way of knowing when or if I would be given the chance again.I don't believe another week of prep would have me in a much better position, so postponing probably wouldn't help that much.If I cancel the interview entirely, I'm not sure how that will come across and if I will be able to try again at another point.Today is Friday, the interview is this coming Tuesday.Long time lurker. Happy to receive feedback from the community.

Jemaclus · Accepted Answer

As a hiring manager, it wouldn't bother me if you told me that you aren't quite ready to interview just yet and that you would reach back out in a month or two. I would say OK, no problem.
The big risk is that the position might not be open in a month or two. That said, fast-growing startups and large startups often have evergreen positions, so that might be a small risk rather than a big one.
My advice: tell the recruiter straight up that you're interested but that for several reasons you won't be available to interview until October. You don't need to go into those reasons.

vaillancourtmax · Answer

> If I go through with the interview and do poorly, I have no way of knowing when or if I would be given the chance again.
If the organization you're looking to join is minimally humane, they'll be open to giving you another chance later down the line. In the event of a rejection, ask whoever's communicating with you for feedback, and mention that you'd like to try again later.
Worst case scenario, it doesn't work out and you discover that this organization is not willing to help people grow and give them a second chance, which could be a sign of other cultural problems below the surface, and you dodge a bullet in the process.
Best case scenario, you're in.
The middle ground is that you know you can prepare a bit more and try again later.
I feel like there's little downside to doing right away. I'd say do it.

speedgoose · Answer

I personally wouldn't memorize algorithms and designs for weeks on my free time for an interview. It's different if you enjoy that of course, or you think it is worth it.I would learn the maximum I can before the interview on Tuesday and hope for the best.

11235813213455 · Answer

What you could do is a fast-learning process, of learning what are the different algorithm families, and when they're relevant, this alone is already super valuable even if you don't know how to use those techniques yet

PaulHoule · Answer

If you're not ready with two weeks of prep, when would you be ready?

MattGaiser · Answer

Just ask for more time. I just postposed an interview for two months with a large tech firm. They didn't seem phased at all.

readonthegoapp · Answer

Reschedule for two months outDone

Should I cancel my interview?

I personally wouldn't memorize algorithms and designs for weeks on my free time for an interview. It's different if you enjoy that of course, or you think it is worth it.
I would learn the maximum I can before the interview on Tuesday and hope for the best.

What you could do is a fast-learning process, of learning what are the different algorithm families, and when they're relevant, this alone is already super valuable even if you don't know how to use those techniques yet

If you're not ready with two weeks of prep, when would you be ready?

Just ask for more time. I just postposed an interview for two months with a large tech firm. They didn't seem phased at all.

Reschedule for two months out
Done