Guidewire's process for interviewing is very streamlined and efficient. - Initial discussion with recruiter -Telephone interview with an engineer/architect to perform initial assessment -Coding test (3 hours, fairly easy if you know Java) -3 interviews over Skype The recruiter and initial assessor were easy to speak with and you could tell they perform these interviews often. The 3 face to face (or Skype) interviews weren't as polished. They use somewhat standard questions to interview. The first interviewer was a stand in and he was nice enough. Explained the process of the company and what he does. He didn't have too many questions. The second interviewer didn't have video working so he could see me but not the opposite. He was also eating during the interview and quite honestly was just plain rude. He essentially talked for 50 minutes and barely asked any questions. The third interviewer knew his stuff and really drilled into me. It was late at night and I had been up till midnight the night before coding so he prompted me on some answers and explained where I had things wrong. He was looking for substance and not definitions. This interviewer was much more professional and knowledgeable. Someone (other than the recruiter) called me with the initial offer details and I received the documents from HR a day later. The docs were fairly standard. Nothing terribly surprising.

Longest and most comprehensive process that I've been through but from the other side it all seems sensible. GW take many steps to ensure the quality and fit of their employees but this means that the substantial investment that they make in new recruits is rarely wasted as attrition is very low, (I've been here for over two years and do not directly know anybody that has chosen to move). Key advice: The process has many steps but if you are clear that you have a specific timeline in mind it can be executed quickly, (e.g. I completed two phone interviews, a written test, three f2f interviews and two benefits conversations in < 5 days: and then I was on a plane the following week). What was particularly good was that the interview process was driven by current services employees so it really was an opportunity to check out the firm in detail, with people who were very open about their experiences, rather than receive corporate guff from those away from the front-line.