I applied online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Samsara (San Francisco, CA) in Oct 2019
Interview
Samsara was quick to schedule a phone interview and then an onsite soon afterward. When I got to the onsite interview, I was directed to a meeting room where I was handed a schedule of the people I'd be interviewing with. Walking to the meeting room was a bit off putting in itself. Just as at a glance, the office lacked diversity and was white-dominated. The interviewers I met (recruiter and management level positions) were all white. This of course, is not anything new. But after doing my initial research on the company, Samsara prides themselves with diversity and inclusion. This was something I did not get a hint of at all.
3 out of 4 of the interviewers seemed uninterested the moment they walked in and seemed like they had already made a decision even before getting to know me as a candidate. My responses were often rushed or cut off and overall I felt like my time as a candidate was not valued. I spent days preparing my responses and had hoped to at least be heard. I know recruiters have a lot on their plate with interviewing hundreds of candidates, but I have never experienced a situation like this one when I very much felt like I had to rush in and out of there because they did not have the time to invest in a quality interview with me.
When I received notice that they moved forward with another candidate, I was not provided with any feedback on how to improve at all. The recruiter who called me was vague and again, seemed like she was in a rush.
I do not recommend applying to this company because of the poor candidate experience that I experienced. Every candidate deserves a fair shot at any roles they apply to but if the interviewers already have a preconceived notion before meeting you, it's inherently unfair as it is.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What is a recruiting coordination process that you've implemented in the past with previous teams?
I applied online. The process took 1 week. I interviewed at Samsara in May 2022
Interview
Samsara has an amazing recruiting team. I had such a positive experience speaking to the recruiter and the managers. I felt so relaxed and at ease during my interview process, The entire time, the questions that I was asked felt like the team wanted to simply get to know me and hear my experience instead of feeling intimidated or being stressed about the next difficult question.
I applied online. I interviewed at Samsara in Sep 2021
Interview
Easy, Fast, and Smooth Experience
- recruiting phone screen
- virtual zoom interviews with 4 people (total 2.5 hours)
- take home assignment
- references
- offer
a very easy and smooth experience! my recruiter was very hands on and answered all my questions. only con was that I wish I had more time to ask questions and talk to folks
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
general behavioral and situation based questions, take home assignment
They sent me a take home assignment with no heads up, wouldve complete missed. almost completely missed the assignment. terrible candidate experience probably not gonna apply for this company ever again. lol gl to everyone else.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Marie Kondo is interviewing with Samsara! She is available for a phone interview on Fridays anytime, and Tuesdays after 1:00pm. Samsara conducts interviews on Mondays and Fridays only, so you schedule her phone interview for Friday at 2:00pm. She later emails you stating
that she has an interview with Time Magazine at 1:30pm on Friday and asks to reschedule for Tuesday.
How would you respond to Marie’s email?
Subject Line:
Email Body:
Alicia Keys is getting ready for her onsite interview with Samsara! Please write a sample email to her, and include details on the following: flight itinerary, hotel booking, and onsite interview confirmation/details. She is currently in New York and will be staying in San Francisco the night before her interview. She then plans to fly back to New York the same day (in the evening) of the interview. Her travel preferences are included below:
Departure Airport: JFK
Date/Time Preferences: Departing JFK before 11:30am, arrive in the evening at SFO. Departing SFO after her interview, direct flight to JFK.
It is Monday morning and you walk into the office at 9:00am. You have 30 new (unread) emails in your inbox. You have a candidate coming in at 10:00am for an onsite interview and you are responsible for giving him an office tour, and getting him settled in a conference room.
The 30 new unread emails in your inbox include:
● Email response from Marie Kondo requesting reimbursement from her onsite last week. (Note: Samsara reimburses candidates who travel here for onsite interviews) ● Alicia Keys emails that she can no longer make her flight tomorrow morning, and is withdrawing from the interview process.
● Coworker is out sick and requests your help in covering a candidate onsite. (Note: coworker’s candidate is also coming in at 10:00am, will need an office tour, and to be shown to a conference room).
● Candidate submits travel information needed to book flights and hotel for an onsite interview on Friday.
● Candidate requesting to reschedule a phone interview set up for 10:00am today. ● An email from a candidate giving two times that they are available to interview tomorrow. ● Incoming summer intern requesting assistance with find temporary housing in SF. ● Manager request to meet and brainstorm ideas for the next D&I focused event. ● Declined interview request from an engineer for a phone screen scheduled for Thursday. ● CEO request to help with an event happening next week.
Questions:
1. How would you prioritize your email inbox and why?
2. How would you prioritize your tasks for the day and why?
