In recent months I have had many experiences of interviews (for reasons of denied work permits I found myself having to re-face the interviews iter after few months, I am talking about interviews with 40ish different companies. I don't give strict geographical limits and this means that there are so many possibilities). Small startups of 4 people, medium-sized businesses, up to Google. I have to say that unfortunally I have never felt so debased as in this experience.
As you read everywhere their interview process is long and challenging. I do not understand those who complain about this, many things have impressed me positively of Bending Spoons, one of these was the search for talents with open mind and who easy face problems far from their field.
Besides this, the extremely youthful culture, the great research of the quality of the products, the passion and the desire to become an influent international company and to positively change the world around us is praiseworthy, and made me dream of being chosen to make part of this company.
I gladly accepted all the interview steps, facing all the challenges without problems.
- general logic test
- HR interview
- coding challenge
- HR interview
- 4 timed exercises
- HR interview
- 4 timed exercises
- HR interview on-site
- in-depth theoretical technical interview + live coding
For a total of about 45 hours. But I think that probably is even more. Considering the current offer I received from another company, it is as if I had given 1.200€ of my time to them.
The only flaws in those steps (not in the interview process.. in those steps) were the first test (but I do not think it has a great value) and the last interview that was presented to me as a chat with the iOS team, but instead I found myself at one of the longest and deeper technical interviews than I have ever done (I am a person who has anxiety when I face similar talks without having prepared, and I always end up badly thinking. And this was the ONLY CASE in my carreer in which I wasn't appropriately told that I was going to have this kind of interview).
In addition to this, of course, references were also requested. I presented them 4 ex co-worker. They called 3 of them. They gave an appointment to the fourth but they didn't called him, and even without notifying him.
So let's recap 45 hours of my efforts, 6 intense weeks, 3 people besides me who have been disturbed.
Their decision about me? "can you wait please?"
I had to wait for a reply for a month. For several times I was given a deadline by which I would have received their decision, and for several times it was not respected and I was the one who had to request again news. Really frustrating given their claims against the candidates.
Finally after almost 1 month since the last interview (2 months and a half after the beginning of the process), I received the negative result with a feedback that honestly does not convince me at all. This make me think that Bending Spoons is currently focusing more on academics than on highly experienced people, and that they evaluate any slight theoretical error with great severity. I always find that theory is a good thing, but that practice makes the difference between a teacher and a worker
It was a super challenging and fun process, but at the same time the last month of waiting was very frustrating, it was very frustrating to be discarded due to the lack of knowledge of micro parts of the vast computer world, It was very frustrating to see a very presumptuous attitude of some interlocutors that make you feel uncomfortable during the interviews.
I must say that fortunately, however, some people who have been worth knowing have been there.
Dear Spooners, I recommend you one thing. Before get ahead of yourself, thinking about changing the world.. You can start to treating people as human beings. Because if you have not noticed, the world is made up of people. And we are already full of companies and groups where outsiders are considered to be B-series people. You are not yet at this level, but it seems to me that you have taken the road that leads to that.
Dear Reader, is it the case that you are applying for this company? It depends on you. It's very difficult, it's long, it's frustrating. On the other hand, however, offer a young environment, with lots of cool things, where quality is highlighted, where new technologies are well received. What you need to understand is if it's worth it for you. It was worth it for me.
