HubSpot has some very questionable recruitment policies.

I noticed two excellent roles: Presales and Solution Architect, which I felt I was well-suited for based on the job descriptions. After a week of applying, I received a call from recruitment regarding the presales role. An interview date was set, but the recruiter never called.

After sending a reminder, the recruiter claimed she had not noticed the appointment and rescheduled for a solution architect role. I understood that mistakes happen, especially given the current pressures and strain from the pandemic.

Fortunately, the recruiter did connect on the rescheduled date. When I inquired about the mix-up with the roles, the recruiter explained she was handling both, leading to a combined interview.

The interview proceeded normally with typical questions like "Tell me about yourself" and behavioral questions, such as how I would help a colleague in trouble. This is where things took a strange turn.

Upon completing the interview, I asked for feedback. The recruiter stated I had gone over time. I believe I only took an additional 2-3 minutes per question. Recruiters do not typically inform candidates of time limits for responses, which can lead to quick decisions that the candidate may not be the right fit, and this is then communicated to the hiring manager.

A few days later, I received an email stating I had not been selected because they had found candidates who better suited the role. This is problematic. The job descriptions did not clearly outline the requirements, leading candidates to believe they qualified, only to be rejected. Significant time is wasted preparing for interviews.

Similarly, my two roles were combined into one, and I was not given a fair opportunity. I believe HubSpot should include a sales engineer in the interview process to ensure proper vetting of candidates.

In my previous experience, I was used to recruiting Sales Engineers, and every CV was reviewed by a solution consultant to ensure we did not overlook a strong candidate who could make a significant contribution and bring value.

My advice to those applying at HubSpot: be prepared to work hard, but do not expect to always see the fruits of that labor. HubSpot prides itself on being inclusive, allowing individuals from non-presales backgrounds to transition into presales roles, which is commendable. However, the reality appears to be just smoke and mirrors. There seems to be a lot of confusion at HubSpot. Personally, I will not be applying to HubSpot again.

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. How will you help a colleague who is in trouble and not be in the limelight?