I wanted to share my experience with interview processes during this COVID-19 outbreak, it might help someone to determine future schedule. Additionally, I'm in somewhat tricky situation, as you'll see by the end of the post, so I'd be glad to hear some suggestions and taughts.

Note: This post is related only to the scheduling and timing of interviews, as well as some dilemmas given current circimstances. When I finalize the processes, I'll write a detailed post explaining the experiences with each of the companies, and providing questions I was asked.

Short background: I'm a recent masters graduate from a top uni in Europe. I've completed a couple of internships at Big Tech and HFT companies, as well as participated on research projects at Europe's top institutes. For the past 6 months or so, I'm looking for a job, both SWE and MLE positions. Due to personal occupations, Christmas holidays, and now Coronavirus, this job hunt extended much more than planned.

I started the process with Google sometimes by the end of November 2019. Since then I completed and passed two phone interviews, the last one being around end of January. The next day I was notified I did well, and should just wait for onsite to be scheduled. Two weeks after, and no date set, I got a call from my recruiter telling me they are overbooked for onsite interviews, and that I'll get my turn around end of March, beginning of April. In the meantime, Coronavirus broke out in Europe, which slowed things down even more. I've recieved an offer from another company, and wanted to expedite the process with Google, but when I spoke with my recruiter, there doesn't seem to be any chance of interviewing in the next couple of weeks at all, and after that, when they sort things out internally, they can think of the dates. This wasn't quite reassuring, especially given that they are my top choice.

When it comes to Microsoft, there seems to be even more chaos. I got referred for a position twice now by friends working there, and both times, even though my CV got approved by hiring manager for continuing the interviews, I wasn't contacted by recruiters. I'm in close contact with those friends, and they told me a lot of the people who are taking care of recruitment, are swamped with work around Coronavirus outbreak, and that they are barelry reachable even to internal colleagues. Again, I'm told to expect contact only in a couple of weeks after these things settle a bit. Microsoft is my second pick.

Third company on my list by priority is a small startup, and they were more explicit about further process. They immediately told me that with the data that they currently have, I'm a favourable candidate, but they're freezing recruitment for the next two months (month and a half from now) nonetheless, until this dust settles.

As I previously mentioned, I've recieved an offer from another company, and although I'm lucky and glad I did given the current situation, I have no idea what should I do now. On the one hand, I should be happy about the opportunity, both since I got an offer during this crisis situation, as well as that I finally have an offer on the table after around 6 months of job search. On the other hand, they aren't even in my top three choice, and although they are a good company, I don't think they are a perfect fit for me. The dilema that I struggle with now is should I take this offer now and see how it goes, or should I decline it and risk not getting any of my first three choices. Given current outbreak circumstances, it is quite vague when can I start working at all. All of the companies that I speak with are currently working remotely, so I have no idea if I'll start working remotely in case this thing prolongs, or wait until I can come onsite.

Thanks for reading until the end! I'm happy to hear your taughts on the matter. Does anyone have similar experience? How do you cope with job search during the outbreak?