nterview Process Review - A Cautionary Tale
The interview process started off well and followed a fairly standard structure. After three rounds, I was asked to present a comprehensive deck to the Global Head of Talent Acquisition. While it was a detailed and time-consuming task, especially for a short-term contract role, I was happy to put in the effort. At the end of the interview, I was told I would receive feedback early the following week, as I had two other offers on the table.
However, I found myself having to chase feedback after not hearing back within the promised timeframe. After three stages, including a significant presentation, I didn’t feel it was my responsibility to follow up. I eventually sent a message expressing my disappointment with the process and the lack of communication, particularly given that this recruiting team sets the tone for how Celonis acquires talent and shapes the candidate experience.
Surprisingly, I received a call the following Monday morning—only after my message—asking to discuss things further. It was clear to me that this call wouldn’t have been made if I hadn’t voiced my frustrations. During a previous conversation, I was told the team was severely under-resourced, yet on the same day, new roles were advertised as urgent. Fast forward to the final call, and suddenly the tone shifted: they weren’t sure if they needed to hire now and needed more time to decide.
As someone with over 20 years of experience, I can confidently say nothing had really changed—it was just spin. Celonis is a growing company with big ambitions, so for someone at a senior level to handle communication in this way was quite surprising, if not laughable. I wouldn’t have minded being told I wasn’t the right fit, but the entire process felt outdated and unprofessional, reminiscent of candidate experiences from decades ago.
If you're interviewing with Celonis, be cautious about what you're told versus the reality of the situation.