Process
I was quickly contacted for a recruiter phone screening after applying online.
I was asked some very simple questions. I answered these thoroughly and to the best of my ability. I felt very, very confident that I had a positive interview, demonstrating both my technical knowledge and industry knowledge as to why Vimeo interested me.
A few days later, I received an automated rejection from a no-reply email address.
I quickly realized this recruiter had little experience with Engineering candidates. As thorough as I was in selling myself, the questions I was asked were really simple, even by screening standards.
For example, they asked me a "tell me about your background" question but followed up with zero questions about my experience or projects that I spoke about and were on my resume. It felt like they were just reading a list rather than engaging in a conversation.
The standout question that I definitely think got me the boot was about what coding languages I knew. They seemed dissatisfied with the languages I said I was proficient in because it didn't exactly match what I would use on the job. The ones I spoke about knowing were in fact on the job posting requirements, though, and as an experienced Engineer, I said that I could pick up any other language very quickly. I thought their dissatisfaction was bizarre, given it's also made clear on my resume which languages I know.
I felt the recruiter did a poor job of gauging my abilities given the lack of depth. The big problem with that language question is, this was a low-level generalist role. If this was a role requiring a lot of very specific technologies and/or in a tiny startup, that's one thing. But the requirements were pretty barebones, and anyone knowledgeable in Engineering knows the principles are significantly more important than what language(s) you know.
I can't emphasize enough how important it is for recruiters to understand that a good Engineer can pick up any coding language easily.
I realize this was just one recruiter, but I doubt I'll be applying again, seeing that the other interview reviews aren't exactly stellar either.
Questions
Tell me about your background.
What are you looking for in your next job?
What coding languages do you know?
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 18 interview experiences for the Vimeo Software Engineer role in United States.
Success Rate
Vimeo's interview process for their Software Engineer roles in the United States is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Candidates reported having very negative feelings for Vimeo's Software Engineer interview process in United States.
Vimeo Work Experiences
- 5.0Excellent company with excellent people to work withSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeJune 7, 2022Pros: Culture, perks, flexible work modes, welcoming and super helpful people, and top-notch work-life balance.Cons: I did not feel anything wrong here.
- 5.0A New Era of Stability and Focus Under Strong LeadershipSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeFebruary 4, 2025Pros: The company has undergone a significant transformation under the new CEO, who has brought a disciplined approach to leadership. By narrowing the focus, and more importantly (and difficult to do) staying the path, we're already seeing measurable success. This has created a sense of stability that was previously lacking, giving most employees more confidence in the company’s direction. Work-life balance is another major strength, with the wholehearted adoption of a hybrid work model. This flexibility allows employees to manage their work and life responsibilities with autonomy, a huge plus in today's work environment.Cons: Upward mobility has not always been clear, leaving some uncertainty about career progression within the company. However, at the moment, this challenge is being actively addressed by a newly dedicated team focused on improving clarity around internal growth opportunities and more. While only time will tell how effective these efforts will be, the disciplined principles introduced by the CEO suggest that we should see this challenge soon disappear.
- 5.0Keeps getting better and betterSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeNew York, New York, United StatesMarch 5, 2021Pros: - Excellent C-level leadership: They listen, adapt, plan for the future, express a strong preference for fairness, are inclusive, diverse, transparent, and down-to-earth. - Excellent team management: Surveys over multiple years have confirmed that Vimeo promotes and hires excellent managers. - Competitive position: Team and product quality keep improving. The product is moving in the right direction. - The tech: The stack also keeps improving. We keep moving towards and staying close to the cutting edge in terms of frontend engineering. Backend work uses the latest and greatest for the most part (latest PHP, Go, Python, etc.). A big plus is that some of the most consequential PHP open-source libraries are written and maintained by Vimeo employees. - Compensation: Packages continue to improve. Pay bands were unilaterally increased across the entire company this year to make us more competitive. New RSU program. - Culture: Hard to ever leave given the quality of one's teammates here. Like family.Cons: - Need to hire faster (being worked on). - While improving, compensation could be even more competitive.
