I applied through a staffing agency. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Gumtree (London, England) in Oct 2015
Interview
I was headhunted by a recruitment agency and agreed to interview at Gumtree in their Richmond office in London. Having worked for a similar company and position, I thought my background would make me a great fit. The interview itself was quite formal with typical interview style questions. The interview lasted about an hour in which a rapport was established and a couple of jokes were even shared.
I was disappointed to be informed that although, Gumtree thought I had the right experience and came across as a down to earth candidate. They decided not to proceed ahead with my application as they felt that I would not be a "CULTURAL FIT" for the company. You can imagine my shock.
This can be interpreted in many ways and may even be interpreted as discrimination. I can’t seem to shake off the feeling that my gender and/or my race had something to do with the decision.
It might be best for candidates to apply elsewhere with a more professional hiring process where their experience and personality are evaluated.
Just an fyi, base salary at Gumtree appears to be quite low in comparison to average salaries in London
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Typical interview questions, e.g. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Tell me about your previous job/ experience. What makes a good manager?