Submission + - Have you ever been accused of cheating on a technical screen? 1
An anonymous reader writes: Recently I was interviewing for a large online retailer who shall go unamed. During the intial phone screen I was asked the usual types of questions one would use to screen a potential linux SA. I recently received feedback from their HR that essentially accused me of using the phone screen to cheat by looking up answers to questions while the interview was ongoing. Needless to say, I did not cheat or otherwise use notes or a computer in any way during the interview to assist me in answering the questions. I answered everything from memory and am puzzled by the accusation and I'm quite angry that I've been unfairly accused of cheating or that I would even resort to doing something like that during a tech screen. I would have been more than happy to have had the interview conducted in person and my answers would have been exactly the same as everything came from memory. Has this experience ever happened to you and if so, how did you deal with it? I'm worried I will be "blacklisted" for future positions with this employer due to these false allegations that I cheated during the technical phone screen. Having been on both sides of these types of calls what are some ways to deal with this issue and ensure people are not cheating by googling answers? What are some ways to indemnify yourself against such accusations as not every employer wants to take the time to set up and schedule a face to face interview? The best I could do was explain that I did not use notes or a computer of any kind and that I am disappointed they were given that impression during the interview. Is cheating on interviews really that widespread in the tech industry? I'd assume anyone who successfully faked their way through the initial technical screening interview would be caught up when they actually had to produce something or solve problems in later face to face interviews.
