I applied online. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at Mavens (Chicago, IL) in May 2013
Interview
Mavens has a very unique interview process that I found very refreshing -- although pretty long and time consuming. First and foremost, the interview process is all about fit and culture. That is the #1 criteria that is being evaluated.
As it was laid out to me the evaluation is:
1. Culture Fit
2. Consulting Skills (problem solving, communication, presentation, etc.)
3. Technical Skills
The interview process lasted about 3 months. First there were two phone screens. Next was the Interview Exercise. This exercise requires a candidate to meet with a Mavens consultant to gather requirements, then build a salesforce application, and concludes with presenting a demo of the solution to a group. Finally, the last step was 2-3 hour in person interview with several 1:1 interviews.
Although the process sounds daunting, for me it was very freshing. I did not have direct salesforce experience, but was able to showcase my ability to pick up the technology and present a solution. It truly gives candidates an opportunity to "show" rather than "tell".
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Building and Demoing the Interview Exercise Application
I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Mavens (Chicago, IL) in Feb 2018
Interview
1st step was a 30 minute phone call with HR where you are asked about your background and career experience. 2nd step was a 1-on-1 meeting with a current Solution Architect where the told me about their experience at Mavens and answered my questions about the job/company. 3rd step (most important) was a mock project, including a simple list of functional requirements, 1 meeting with a fake SME from the fake client company to resolve any questions about the written requirements, and--1 to 2 weeks later--a presentation to a panel where I demoed the application I built. Pay attention to details and be ready to justify decisions. 4th step was an on-site visit to the Chicago office to meet 1-on-1 with several Mavens. Most of these conversations felt very casual and informational.
On the whole, though the process was a bit longer than most, it was very refreshing to be evaluated on the quality of your work rather than just your resume or ability to sell yourself in a formal interview. They also put extra time into making sure all your questions about the company and job are answered and making sure there is a good fit for both you and the company.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Q: Why are there start and end dates on this object? I don't think that's something we really care about.
I applied online. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at Mavens (Chicago, IL) in Jan 2018
Interview
I think it was a very refreshing interview experience. I applied online and got a call from an Office Lead. Then I spoke to another Solutions Architect about the company and their values. The unique part of the interview was a fictional client project and presenting your solution to a group of Mavens. (Advice: Make sure you "button up" your presentation, you can't do it "on the fly").
After the presentation, I was flown to Chicago for 4 in-person interviews. It was a wonderful experience!
I applied online. I interviewed at Mavens (Chicago, IL) in Mar 2017
Interview
The interview process consists of a total of four rounds with the first two being phone interviews. During the phone interviews, the interviewers seek to get a better sense of your background and provide you with an overview of Mavens and the interview journey you’re about to embark on. After the second round, you're given a set of business requirements to build a demo application using Salesforce. You're also provided with a mock client contact at Mavens who will answer any requirements questions you have along the way. You're given a few weeks to complete the application, then you present it to a three person group of Mavens employees. If you’re local to Chicago, you will present the application in the office, and if not, you’ll present it on a conference call. The demo is focused on the end user’s perspective rather than running through the Salesforce configurations completed. Be prepared to answer questions regarding the design of your application as you complete the demo. Following the presentation, you’ll be scheduled for the final interview where you will meet with three to four Mavens employees.
Overall the interview process was long, but the thorough vetting that Mavens does throughout the process shows that the company is heavily invested in hiring the right people. Mavens doesn't necessarily hire people to fill open positions by a certain deadline, and instead, they hire a person when he/she is the right fit.
