Real, anonymous reports from people who interviewed for Software Engineer at Itw, newest first and distilled into what to expect across the loop.
HR reached out to schedule a Zoom call with herself and a director. The call was fairly short, and the director mainly wanted to sanity-check that I fit what they were hiring for and that the role made sense for me. After that, they booked me for a plant tour and an additional interview with their chief chemist, and that chemistry-focused interview ran for the full hour it was scheduled.
My process started with a Microsoft Teams call that lasted around 30 minutes. It was framed around the Standard Products team—what the responsibilities were, and a discussion of my resume.
The interview process typically begins with a short HR call to discuss the candidate's resume and fit for the role, but candidates noted that the HR representatives often lacked technical knowledge, which could lead to vague discussions and a lack of clarity about the role.
Candidates should expect technical interviews that focus on practical software skills, including discussions about past projects and core engineering topics like C++ and Docker, often mixed with behavioral questions to assess problem-solving abilities.
Some candidates reported a structured interview process that included hands-on experiences or facility tours, which required them to analyze design details and demonstrate their technical knowledge in practical settings.
The overall interview process can be lengthy, with candidates experiencing significant delays between rounds and a lack of timely communication regarding their status, which can lead to frustration and uncertainty about the outcome.
Candidates felt that the evaluation process involved multiple decision-makers, which could complicate the experience; some reported feeling judged unfairly or not having a fair chance due to the evaluators' lack of technical understanding.
Candidates should be prepared to discuss relocation expectations early in the process, as there may be an expectation to cover relocation costs themselves, which could lead to uncomfortable conversations with recruiters.