Most ridiculous interview process that I have gone through in my career. It started off with a behavioral interview, and I was recommended for Manager level by a Senior Managing Director. Next was another skills assessment round that lasted for 20 minutes, where I was asked vague technical questions. I passed that round with the interviewer recommending me for Manager level and was scheduled for another technical skills assessment. The hiring manager asked technical questions such as, 'Have you worked with Spark?' and there were no counter questions. This lasted 12-14 minutes, and I was told that he could only take me for a Consultant level since I didn’t have business development experience and more hands-on experience. I was never even asked to provide any business development experience in the first place. In the previous round, the Senior Manager told me that business development experience was not at all necessary since 'we don’t expect you to have it'.

The HR recruiter called me and told me that I’m recommended for a Consultant position by both Senior Managers and that they can promote me within the next 2 years to Manager level. I told her about the previous feedback from the Senior Managing Director and Senior Manager, where I was indeed recommended for Manager level (the email from the recruiter mentions it clearly). The HR told me that she’s 'surprised, to be honest' and that she has started recently at Accenture, so she doesn’t know about the working style of the hiring manager. I still gave her a green light to proceed since I believe in my skills.

I was then told that there would be another final round with a manager so I could get a sense of that level. However, it was scheduled with another Senior Manager who worked with a different group altogether. The round precisely lasted for 15 minutes, where once again I was asked yes or no type of questions without any counter questions. The interviewer seemed impressed. I waited for an offer for a day and then received a shocking email. I was not offered a position because this last interviewer doesn’t think I have the required technical skillsets that would be needed for his team. This was the most absurd thing. He was not even the hiring manager, so why was I being told that he cannot offer me a position in his team? He didn’t ask technical questions, and I was told the last round would not be technical. Great.

The whole process took around 2 months, and I am obviously so disappointed with the mess and confusion. I blasted an email to HR and don’t expect to receive a response. This was the Applied Intelligence group based out of Toronto, so I would not recommend them at all.

Do you know Spark and/or have you worked with PySpark?