The process consisted of 3 separate interviews. First call with HR, second call is a technician interview with dev and QA team and third an interview with leadership team.
Pros:
- The technical interviewers were professional and engaged
- The process gave me a chance to demonstrate deep technical expertise and practical automation framework experience.
- Communication during scheduling was clear and timely.
Cons:
- Expectations around “leadership” were vague and inconsistent. Despite demonstrating real-world leadership (framework design, mentoring team members, reviewing PRs) I was told I “did fine technically” but wasn’t considered “enough of a leader.”
- Felt like the company confuses “leadership” with titles rather than actual responsibilities and achievements.
Advice to Management: Be clearer about what “leadership” means in your job requirements. If you’re only looking for people with formal management titles - say so upfront instead of overlooking candidates who lead through mentoring, ownership and technical direction.
