I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Skandia (Stockholm, Stockholm) in Oct 2025
Interview
I applied online multiple times. I interviewed at the company on three separate occasions.
I applied for several positions and was contacted by HR for three of them. While it's positive that my profile was noticed, the overall experience was inconsistent and ultimately unsuccessful.
Recruiter Screening:
The initial HR calls were standard but varied by individual. All of them asked for my salary expectation and notice period. However, it's important to know that these figures are recorded internally and visible across your applications. Ensure your salary expectations are consistent for similar roles, as different HR reps may have access to your history.
First Interview with Hiring Manager:
This is where the experiences diverged significantly. I had three first-round interviews with different managers:
Interview 1: Felt like a classic question bombardment without deep engagement.
Interview 2: Was very positive and conversational, focused on my previous experience and how it could be applied.
Interview 3: Was project-specific. I failed to effectively connect my own experience to their web application product, which was a learning moment for me.
Overall Impression:
The culture and requirements seem to vary drastically depending on the specific project and manager. The company appears to take a high number of candidates to the first interview stage, which means the probability of moving forward is not high unless your profile is an exceptionally strong match. I would have preferred a more stringent initial screening process rather than going through multiple first-round interviews that didn't lead to an offer.
Advice to Candidates:
Thoroughly research the specific project and tailor your experience to it directly.
Be prepared for vastly different interview styles.
Be consistent with your salary expectations for similar roles, as the internal team can see your previous answers.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
HR screening: Why Skandia, Why you leaving your current job, your expectation of employer, what can you contribute, what motivates you, What do you think of cooperation with colleagues, notice period, salary expectation, next step in the process.
First interviews:
How do your current team work?
When are you at your best?
Is it ok to work over time?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Have you worked with xxx, xxx, xxx?
Do you prefer frontend or backend?
How do your current team handle testing?
What do you think of pair programming?