Interview Experience Overview:
TL;DR: The initial stages of the interview process were excellent, thanks to the recruiter, Julia, and the engineers, Kirill and Simon, during the technical interview. However, the team interview was disappointing and felt like a significant departure from the positive experiences earlier (read the Team Interview section).
Recruiter Stage:
The recruitment stage was smooth and insightful. Julia, the recruiter, was supportive from start to finish. I usually tend to ask tons of questions, and she did a fantastic job by answering them all. I encourage applicants to ask questions, as the recruitment team provides excellent guidance throughout this stage.
Technical Interview Stage:
The technical interview featured two engineers from different Semrush teams. The atmosphere was not intimidating but rather a friendly discussion focusing on Python, testing methodologies, databases, and DevOps. This stage was conducted in a relaxed, friendly, and productive manner, significantly boosting my interest in the company. I was lucky enough to face experienced, and interesting personalities in this interview stage.
Team Interview:
The team interview, expected to be conducted in English, was instead held in Russian. This was not a personal issue but was unexpected.
The interview included the Engineering Manager (EM), two developers, and their HR. While the HR and the EM introduced themselves, others did not (neither did I) since the HR began with behavioral questions immediately, creating a feeling of a one-sided interrogation rather than a dialogue, contrasting sharply with the earlier stages. I maintained my responses in the STAR format, as recommended by Semrush's career page.
An unfortunate incident occurred when an HR representative interrupted me in the middle of my answer to a question from one of the devs, accusing me of reading from prepared notes, which was untrue. I apologized and explained my ADHD, which sometimes impacts my response formulation (they may sound a bit chaotic), but this did not seem to alter their approach. This incident marred the overall experience, signaling to me a likely rejection.
The process could have been more respectful and considerate, especially towards candidates with neurodiversity. Although I anticipated feedback post-interview, as implied by their process, I only received a generic response indicating their "hard" decision to move forward with another candidate.
Team Interview Rant:
So, that team interview? Honestly, it was probably one of the worst ones I've ever had. Getting all the way to the final round after jumping through hoop after hoop, only to be unfairly called out for cheating because of my neurodiversity... that just felt low. And then, waiting a whole week just to get a cookie-cutter "please understand that it was a hard decision" message? Man, that's really bad! It's a bummer to think that after all that effort and getting so close, the whole experience had to end on such a sour note. It just goes to show how a single off-putting interaction can really throw off the whole vibe of what could've been a cool opportunity. That's why I rate my experience interviewing with Semrush as negative, not neutral.
Special thanks to:
One more time, Julia, Kirill, and Simon, the parts you have been involved in were a good and promising experience for me, and I appreciate your time and effort in it.
