I applied online. I interviewed at Automattic (Boston, MA) in Jun 2026
Interview
I had a disappointing first-stage interview experience.
The interview was conducted over Google Meet and recorded using Gemini. I was not asked for consent in advance; I was informed at the start that the conversation would be recorded. That felt uncomfortable and could have been handled more transparently.
The interview was also rescheduled twice, including one reschedule that happened at the time the interview was supposed to begin. During the actual interview, the interviewer seemed rushed and unprepared, and the meeting ended about 10 minutes early due to their schedule. For a first-stage interview, that lost time felt important because it limited my ability to provide relevant context about my background and fit for the role.
The questions themselves also felt very surface-level. They did not meaningfully evaluate the skills or experience that seemed relevant to the position, and the structure of the conversation made it difficult to demonstrate technical depth or role alignment.
Overall, the process left me with the impression that the interview was designed more for speed and convenience than for a thoughtful assessment of candidates. I would have appreciated better scheduling, clearer communication around recording, and questions more directly tied to the actual responsibilities of the role.
Interview questions [2]
Question 1
What is your understanding of the position we are hiring for?