I want to be very clear this is not venting out. I’m trying to be as objective and level headed as possible.
The recruiting process was split into several steps:
* Preliminary screening - 1h
* Culture fit: HR & the screener - 45mins.
* Partner: Discussions with PMs - 45mins
* Presentation: You had to do a presentation with which you showed off your portfolio and answer questions. Remote. - 1h
* Critique: Choose an app and do constructive critique. Remote - 30 mins.
* Problem solving: You are presented with a problem that you have to solve. Remote, using Ivision Freehand - 1h (but basically 40 mins)
The US team has the decisive verdict.
In the US there were a total of 4 persons that interviewed me.
They were split between the remote sessions and had to attend the full interviews. However, they came in and out, depending on other meetings they had. Basically, I did the interviews with a maximum of two persons, depending on who entered or got out of the room.
Getting to the result of the interview,
one of the feedbacks I got is I cannot take critique. I struggled to understand what’s the reason for it and the only thing I found out is one instance when somebody proposed another approach for a certain problem. I immediately dismissed it, giving the proper explanations. It was something I was very familiar with, whereas the other person wasn’t. Maybe I should’ve been more mellow, I suspect that other person really didn’t like being disproven that quick. But that doesn’t mean I can’t receive critique, in my opinion. May mean I’m very strongly opinionated, but that’s about it.
Another feedback was about being humble, which ‘m apparently not. Again, I really don’t understand. I can honestly say I’m not smug or something, nor did I behave in such a way.
As a feedback, I can say the interview was very hard - perfectly justifiable - but now, at the end, I feel the whole process was very superficial.
Given the fact that from all the remote sessions no one from the US attended a full one, the verdicts are without any real backing. You can’t evaluate somebody by attending 20 - 25 mins of a remote interview.
Actually, I can say they lack the humble attitude since, let’s face it, it’s not like the UI and UX of the apps are *that* good. They have plenty of problems. But the attitude, man, the attitude! Greatest designers on earth, it seems.
Also the very late hours (8, 9, 10 PM, in my case due to the US time zone) deserve to be mentioned.
Don’t go to work that day, if you can, you’ll be exhausted and well, they don’t care/don’t know. You have to operate at peak efficiency.
Disapopinting, really disappointing.
