# 51: There Is No Crying in Strcpy (Repeat)

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2019-09-12
- Length: 1h 21m
- Episode: 51
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-12-51-there-is-no-crying-in-strcpy-repeat
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/51-there-is-no-crying-in-strcpy-repeat

## Summary

Jen Costillo, an embedded software engineer, joins hosts Elecia White and Christopher to discuss the realities of technical interviewing from both the candidate and hiring manager perspectives. They critique ineffective personality assessments, share anecdotes about bad interviews (including one that made a candidate cry), and debate the value of Google's findings that brainteasers are poor predictors of performance. The conversation highlights the importance of practical, job-relevant technical questions, documentation, and diversity of thought in building effective engineering teams.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-12-51-there-is-no-crying-in-strcpy-repeat#t=6) Introduction and Jen's Job Search
- [10:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-12-51-there-is-no-crying-in-strcpy-repeat#t=632) Critiquing Personality Tests and Bias
- [22:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-12-51-there-is-no-crying-in-strcpy-repeat#t=1330) Dream Interviews and Practical Assessments
- [24:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-12-51-there-is-no-crying-in-strcpy-repeat#t=1452) Technical Questions: String Copy and State Machines
- [49:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-12-51-there-is-no-crying-in-strcpy-repeat#t=2992) The Worst Interview: Making a Candidate Cry
- [57:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-12-51-there-is-no-crying-in-strcpy-repeat#t=3436) Hiring Process: Ratings and Team Fit
- [1:07:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-12-51-there-is-no-crying-in-strcpy-repeat#t=4059) Google's Interview Findings and Team Dynamics
- [1:19:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-12-51-there-is-no-crying-in-strcpy-repeat#t=4773) Closing Thoughts and Book Promotion

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Elecia White (other)
- Christopher White (other)
- Jen Costillo (other)
- Google (company)
- Making Embedded Systems (product)
- Visual Studio 2013 (tool)
- Hackaday Prize (other)
- LeapFrog (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Hiring Processes with Gergely Orosz](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-11-07-hiring-processes-with-gergely-orosz) (Oxide and Friends)
- [S6E34 John Lembke | Best Practices for Hiring Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-08-22-s6e34-john-lembke-best-practices-for-hiring-engineers) (Being an Engineer)
- [Mr. Leventhal, Come here I want to see you](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-05-04-mr-leventhal-come-here-i-want-to-see-you) (Oxide and Friends)
- [S4E41 Neil Thompson | Technical Pitches: Revealing Flaws, Using Stories, & Wiggling Toes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-10-27-s4e41-neil-thompson-technical-pitches-revealing-flaws-using-stories-wiggling-toe) (Being an Engineer)
- [100 Episodes! Break Out the Champagne! A Retrospective](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-24-100-episodes-break-out-the-champagne-a-retrospective) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)

## Citing this page

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