I applied through the local newspaper listing. I called, secured an in person interview and group panel interview. I met with them on two separate occasions. They asked random obscure questions regarding programming languages which were all answered as expected. The interviews went great. 2 Months into the discussion they decided to go with another candidate whose experience was greater than my own. While they liked my attitude, they needed someone in a clutch position who knew what to do on the first week in. I then went and did some freebies for a community college which put in a good word for me. They called me back a few months on regarding a QA testing position. Automated test development / QA testing. I took the job on a wage and then became salary in 2009.