I went through 5 steps, yes 5!
- First interview was background check, discussions over skills and basically pre screening. 2 cool guys(developers) from company attended at the interview and it was very pleasant and positive. After a week I got notification that we will move to the next step.
-Second step was technical interview. Again 2 cool developers from the company attended at the interview. They gave me some codes and asked some questions about the code, it was like a team work rather than interview we actively discussed
solutions and yeah that one also was very pleasant. So after a few days I got notification about next appointment.
-Third step was interview - which was exceptional, they did not mention about it - with technical recruiter. I understand that the company hired that girl recently and just gave her possibility to be involved in hiring process. Anyway, she asked basic behavioral questions and about my salary expectations. Also I understand that she did not check my CV correctly. She even did not know about my nationality. But that interview also was pleasant and positive. After 15 minutes I got info about next step.
-Fourth interview was with one of the directors of the company. He was very cool guy and I felt he also is a honest person. He also asked background questions, behavioral questions and another positive interview took place.Immediately after that interview I moved on to the final interview.
- And honestly I was tired repeating same things again and again :) So the final interview was with a HR Business Partner. I don't know why but she had hidden her face during the interview :) A lighting game :) Anyway interview was disaster, she was very negative and I was very tired. For a while I answered in autopilot mode then covered my energy and answered consciously. She told me that they will notify me about their decision next week.
Then all strange things started to happen. Next week they sent me an email that "they still collecting results, please be patient, the next week is the latest". I thought ok, it's normal. But at the end of the next week I asked them about the process and got same answer but this time different: "You are still our final candidate and we will let you know our decision next week the latest. Are you still interested to join us?". And I started wandering about their aims and asked for clarification. As a response I got rejection email with this content: "Please understand that we can not disclose further reasons that have led to our decision".
As a result, if they would send me a rejection email at the time they promised, I could understand. It's totally normal. But their pattern was making candidate nervous and using that as an argument for rejection.It's totally disrespectful!!!If you want to be busy, read books, write book, do whatever you want, but please, follow business ethics, do not waste candidates time with your fake job advertisements.
Recap: In Smaato developers are cool, recruitment and hr team are unpleasant.
