[finnw]

About 6 years ago I was interviewed for a position that was (mostly) C++ coding.

I told them I had been coding in C++ for four years.

They said "So what level are you, Expert or Guru?"

I thought it was a trick question, and replied that anyone who calls themselves an "expert" after less than 7 years or "guru" after less than 12, is probably over-representing their skill level.

Unfortunately (1) they were serious, (2) what I said applied to all three of my interviewers and (3) it was an internal interview. I had to leave the company very soon afterward. My former boss insisted that I was at least as skilled (at coding) as those three (I passed the technical questions comfortably), and it was just my reluctance to self-promote that let me down.

I don't regret it at all. I would not have done well in that culture, whether I had the coding skills or not. And I avoided having to move (1000s of miles.)