This was an "interesting" one to say the least... CoGrammar also uses the name "HyperionDev" by the way.
Quickly after I applied to the role, I was contacted via e-mail with a request for a coding test. It was comprised of three parts:
- A pure Python project with specific requirements.
- A somewhat vague project where one is asked to develop "something" using the Dropbox Python V2 API. What you are going to build is up to you ("that's your chance to impress us").
- Some questions about general software development processes and architecture patterns and best practices for the development of an API.
The very next day after I submitted my solution to the coding test, I was asked for a Google Hangouts interview online.
Weirdly enough, one day before the interview date, a higher ranked person within the company (Glassdoor doesn't allow me to be more specific) stepped over the shoes of the person that contacted me originally and asked me for an interview the very same day, which I accepted.
This person struck me as being very arrogant, but I did the best I could to control my temper. I didn't completely give up on the role after that, as I reckoned that I wouldn't have to interact much with this person on a daily basis given his rank.
The conversation went well and I was invited to another interview with a technical person.
I really liked the technical guy; cool dude, easy going and knowledgeable. Also, the project seemed very interesting to me. I was truly inclined to take an offer from them.
A few days after the interview the higher ranked arrogant dude I mentioned earlier contacted me saying that they wanted to make an offer.
I was aware that they are a beginning startup and that they couldn't pay me that much, so I slashed about 25% of the average daily rate for a software developer in Europe (3/4 of the average rate for a developer in Europe).
Still, negotiations with this person were quite difficult. This dude came up with some nonsense like "In South Africa [where the company is based] there are people that have to live a month with the average daily rate in Europe". I live in Europe, buddy, not Africa. I need to be able to afford expenses where I live.
Also, he wanted to work with South African currency, obviously only because it makes their offer look "bigger" (because of the exchange rate with Euro, 1 Euro ~ 17 Rand). *sigh*.
A note here: even though the company is based in South Africa, this dude also lives in Europe... *sigh* x 2...
The guy had a "budget" that was less than a sweatshop developer makes in India, which was about 25% of what an average developer makes in Europe (and I'm a senior developer).
In addition to that, they don't offer any benefit at all for full employees and also don't take contractors (as a contractor, I would pay fewer taxes, a better option, given that they offer no benefits in the first place).
They do offer equity, but it was a pain to get info from the dude about that. As far as I'm concerned, dude was being obscure and difficult on purpose.
That was one of the weirdest negotiations ever. The whole conversation went like the guy was trying to convince me to NOT take the job... This dude wasn't even trying to hide that he was there to rob me blind.
After a couple of e-mail exchanges, I realized that the whole thing was pointless, even if I'd get the salary I was seeking.
The way dude just stepped over the shoes of the person who originally contacted me, his overall arrogance, and fondness of micromanagement made me realize that I would have to deal with a very stingy person on a daily basis, thus, I gave up on the whole thing and simply didn't reply back to his latest e-mail.
Unless you have no other option, I would advise you to not even waste your time applying, less yet completing the coding test.
A final note: I understand that salaries in Africa are way lower than in Europe. What I don't understand is why they are trying to hire someone from Europe (and in an African budget).
Given that their company is supposed to serve as a platform to train and find jobs for software developers in Africa, that is odd, to say the least.
They are not even using their own platform to hire their own developers! Their clients who are developers are surely expecting to get hired and their clients who are companies expect to hire developers provided by CoGrammar's platform. Instead, CoGrammar is seeking people from outside (and in Europe). As far as I can tell, accepting their equity is like accepting monopoly money...
