The interview process was a standard format. The first step was a 1 hour screening interview, followed by a 1 hour 1 to 1 with an Engineering Manager, and finally a 3 hour interview split into 3 equal length panel discussions focusing on technology, product, and management.
This was a very long interview process - over 12 weeks from applying to getting a final decision.
Interviews were conducted remotely over Google Hangouts. The majority of the interviews were question and answer style conversations. However, during the technology session, it was a presentation format using Mural.
The question and answer conversations were based around the STAR method. I had not been informed of this beforehand, so my answers were much more conversational. Perhaps this is the norm these days for interviews, but it would be helpful to have critical expectations such as this stated clearly as part of the interview preparation material.
Personally, I felt the manner in which I was informed of not being offered the role was handled badly. I wasn't feeling confident about getting an offer, but 3 weeks after the final interview I was sent an email requesting a call. 5 days after that email I finally spoke to someone at Spotify. This person gave me feedback from my interviews, which I do appreciate, but I had to ask explicitly what decision had been made rather than simply being told at the start.
This is one of those experiences that will stay with me, and I'm sure it will mentioned with colleagues when we share bad job interview experiences.
Overall, I found everyone friendly and welcoming, but I think some improvements around organisation and process would vastly improve the interviewees experience.
* I would give more examples of the interviews questions I had, but it's been such a long wait since the interview I've forgotten most of them.
