interview procedure
a typical masabi interview
Interviews for technical roles at Masabi will usually consist of two stages and a test (interviews for non-technical roles will usually be similar in spirit, but with tests, questions and discussions as applicable, relevant to the role):
first round – video chat
Before moving to a formal interview, we like to carry out an initial 15 minute interview via Skype video chat, at a time that’s convenient to the candidate. In this we will set out to:
- Establish what the role involves;
- Answer any immediate questions and clear up any uncertainties;
- Ensure both sides’ expectations for working in Masabi are in agreement.
second round – meet the team
We will then invite candidates in to our offices in Southwark to meet both with the company founders and with future colleagues to ensure everyone feels comfortable together as a team. Usually this will take between 1-2 hours overall, comprising sessions with different people typically including:
- A discussion of Masabi’s business and business model, day to day work, mobile applications etc. and how the role fits into the picture;
- Technical questions about the candidate’s previous experience, and how it might apply to work at Masabi;
- Some form of technical test, for example a simple programming or bug finding exercise, or some other relative written test for non-technical roles;
- Discussion of the findings in the test (along with any criticisms of the test itself);
- Round-up chat to discuss any further issues, including any questions about availability, work permits, references and salary.
follow up exercise
For development roles a short development exercise will usually follow up a successful in-person interview, which can be completed at home by the candidate (hopefully within a few hours). The purpose of this exercise is to throw a new, simple task and API at the developer, to understand how clearly they develop code – clarity includes simplicity of design as well as adequate documentation and commenting.
For non-technical roles there may be a requirement for some other relevant exercise, but it should always be achievable within a few hours and carried out on a flexible time scale.
