Just some advice, but always look for a job while you have a job once you suspect (or know) that there will be massive changes at your current company, because this made my experience with Akamai so much easier to bear. Thankfully, I have a job, but Akamai called me up and asked if I would be interested in new opportunities with them; so I was interested because I had applied in the past and they basically "ignored" me. It started with a call from one of their HR recruiters and it was very light-hearted; but she did have some pre-canned technical questions, so it seems they do a light technical screen in that first introduction. If you cannot answer those initial (easy) questions, they KNOW you will not be able to get any farther; so I swept through the questions and then they set up a phone screen with the hiring manager. The second call was around my background, verifying details on my resume, and made very clear he was not interested in a technical phone screen; but more about my business acumen, pre-sales experience, etc. The third call was definitely technical and questions jumped from explaining the "trip" from one's browser to the page and back to how web servers provide web streaming services, so it was more challenging. I got through the technical screen and was told someone would be in touch with me; but there was no UP or DOWN response as to my performance. Already 3 weeks "invested" in calls; but finally the HR recruiter contacted me and made clear that they were only interested in bringing me on-site if I am serious about accepting a potential job offer and that it is very competitive. They informed me what topic they would cover during the on-site and that I would be expected to whiteboard solutions and answer a variety of questions. I went one step further and actually prepared a PowerPoint presentation to pre-empt any questions they might have. A TWO day investment "after hours”, but this would "kill two birds with one stone" because I can absorb more information while preparing my presentation and I would be able to be able to showcase some of my "soft skills". Anyway, I felt the on-site went GREAT. I could see they were impressed and the presentation staved off some questions they probably had, because some in the meeting actually declined to ask questions. Then a final "interview" with their superior was over lunch, which basically covered Akamai as a company, what I know about them, my experience with them, it was very high level and more of an excuse for someone up top to "approve" the candidate. Finally, there was a short chat on my way out with the hiring manager where he explained that Akamai puts everyone through about a year of training and that one more person was supposed to join us, but there was training going on. He mentioned that I should look at other opportunities if I join Akamai as they need people in other areas; but that I have some strong "soft skills" with a promise to receive a call within a week or so. Did that call ever come? Nothing. Not even a "thanks but no thanks", so everything that seemed positive ended with utter silence, which is disappointing and regretful.

Several phone interviews with the hiring manager, as well as several onsite interviews with other managers in NYC. Some of the onsite interviews were also video calls to the Cambridge HQ. All of the interviews were one-on-one, not in front of a panel. The process was straight forward, and it took around two months to complete. In the middle of that two months was Hurricane Sandy, which I am sure added at least 1-2 weeks. My start date was not very flexible, I needed it to be pushed out around 7 weeks, and the hiring manager allowed it. There were no "offensive" or "time waster" questions like if I was a crayon what color would I be or if I was an animal what would I be, none of that stuff. It was very professional. Like any interview it was a anxious experience, but very good overall.