I interviewed at Samsung Electronics (Saint-Ouen, Ile-de-France) in Oct 2024
Interview
Title: Disappointing Interview Process Due to Technical Issues and Lack of Follow-Up
I recently interviewed for an office manager position at Samsung France through a recruiting agency, and I’m compelled to share my experience. While I understand that not being selected is sometimes just a matter of finding the right mutual fit between candidate and company, my disappointment lies with the process itself.
My initial meeting with the HR representative in France was positive. They explicitly told me that I was either the best or one of the top candidates they had seen thus far and would push my profile forward to the team. Their clarity, professionalism, and approach made that part of the experience pleasant, regardless of the outcome.
However, the rest of the process was marked by significant technical difficulties and poor communication. When I met the first team leader via Microsoft Teams, there were immediate technical issues—something I’ve found others have experienced as well. Despite suggesting a simple fix, the leader chose to end the interview abruptly after less than a minute, opting to reschedule instead. They came across as temperamental, and it felt dismissive and unfair.
The second interview also had technical challenges with an echo issue on Teams, which was beyond my control. I did my best to mitigate the problem by muting when not speaking and maintaining professionalism. I felt the interview went well and even extended my availability, staying until 8 p.m. Paris time to accommodate their schedule. I also offered to reschedule for the same evening to demonstrate my flexibility. Despite this, I never received any follow-up. The executive assistant mentioned that if the team decided to reschedule, they would reach out, but that never happened, even after I was told by phone that a reschedule would occur.
Overall, I felt I was not given a fair opportunity to showcase my abilities due to issues beyond my control. The communication breakdowns and technical issues made it impossible to present myself fully to the team. Although I was informed that they are trying to build a better candidate experience, this process fell short of those aspirations. I hope future candidates have a smoother and more equitable experience.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Hypothetical scenario questions such as managing agenda issues