I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Samsara (London, England) in June 2024
Interview
From the initial hiring manager to the Global Communications Lead, the team at Samsara came across as a lovely group with a great culture and a passionate approach to their work. I enjoyed learning more about Samsara and the significant impact they are making as a company. I'd apply again without a doubt!
However, the interview process was unnecessarily lengthy, spanning just shy of a month and involving a total of seven interviews. While they are meticulous in scheduling and provide a calendar for candidates to select available dates, the process still felt excessive.
The interview process included:
1. An initial screen with the hiring manager (40 minutes)
2. An interview with the communications head (30 minutes)
3. Six interviews with different panel members (30-40 minutes each)
4. A recruitment task (creating a 'top-level' social media plan for the week)
Although I appreciate their dedication to hiring the right person, I felt there was little consideration for the applicant's time. While Samsara operates remotely, applicants may not and have to fit these seven interviews into their workweek. More importantly, I felt it was disproportionate to the role I applied for. Two interviews and a task would have been sufficient for this vacancy. In all honesty, one could potentially feel drained by the time they reach interview six.
As an American company scaling up and expanding its reach, Samsara's growth was a significant factor that drew me to apply. However, HR should be mindful that not all processes and procedures translate globally, and their interview process is a prime example of this.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with ...?
Thank you for sharing your experience interviewing at Samsara and for your interest in joining the team. We appreciate your feedback on interview length and know it will be considered as we continue to improve our process.