I applied on Cloudbeds' website in November 2018 and the whole process took around 3 months! Yes, you read me well...It took ages to get a no as an answer. After investing hours and even days... researching about the company, the position, getting prepared for each stage and completing all the requirements until the last step, I received an email saying other candidates were chosen without even giving me a reason. It would be useful and comforting to know why they didn't think I would fit.
The steps were:
- Filling the application form and sending the CV (15th Nov)
- One way interview - You use a software called Spark Hire to record several short videos answering questions. They use this system to save time and screen the candidates, but I felt like being interviewed by a robot. I felt nervous because there is a time limit and you can't repeat the video, which adds pressure. You have two options after recording your answer: send it or cancel it and the company will know you skipped that question. In my opinion, this system doesn't allow us to show the best version of ourselves, it's fake, unnatural and impersonal. (25th Nov)
- The following step in the interview process was an English proficiency test. This test was free of charge and provided by indeed. (7th Dec)
- 3 part questionnaire was the step after. I had to write e-mails answering customers considering the situations presented in the test. At this stage, they are basically evaluating your written abilities and customer service skills (17th Dec)
- After all these steps I received an e-mail saying I have been selected to move onto the final round. The final round was a 1-hour live video interview with the hiring team. So, full of hope, spent a few hours more preparing myself for the big day, writing down all the possible questions and thinking about the best answers... (26th Dec)
Apparently, my effort and references weren't enough and received an automatic e-mail saying no in a very polite way, giving hope for the near future (never heard from them again).
So, in conclusion, the process is very automatized and made me feel I lost my time with a team that treats their candidates as numbers. All the theory they claim to follow is far from reality.