Caribou Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process felt a bit unorganized. The role was for a senior position with good pay, and the recruiter didn't seem to know much about the job description. She kept saying I'd need to ask the hiring manager about everything. Then there was a Python assessment where they wanted me to build a whole app for triaging alerts. It felt like they were trying to get free work. Usually, these assessments are just one or two tasks related to the job, not a whole app. After that, there were 4 days of interviews with different teams. I ended up not getting the job after the assessment, which was kind of expected. The job keeps getting reposted, making me think they're just collecting app ideas from candidates instead of hiring anyone.

This was a pretty thorough interview process, but HR was super helpful and kept me in the loop. I got to chat with 3 folks on the marketing team before the last interview, which was great for getting a sense of the team and the company vibe. The interviews were straightforward, and they even sent over the questions beforehand so I could prep and have good discussions. The case study was a bit involved, but it was a good way for me to figure out if this was a long-term fit and for Caribou to see if I aligned with their brand and needs. Honestly, it wasn't even the most intense case study I've done for social media jobs! Overall, I really enjoyed interviewing with them and appreciated how communicative they were.

The recruiter's aloof demeanor was surprising, given the negative press surrounding their company. After reading several reviews, I can confirm these negative claims. I had heard about this company years ago and decided to apply. However, after submitting my application, I researched Caribou and was alarmed by the negative reviews. Upon learning more about the expectations and current organizational structure, it became evident that this company lacks direction. Caribou expects this role to cover numerous channels and lead the team across multiple areas, with no agency support and no plans to hire one. Whoever takes this role is set up for failure. Furthermore, they exploit their hiring process for free consulting. Candidates are expected to prepare a presentation outlining their approach to the job and business strategy. This might be reasonable for a large company with a stellar reputation, but not for one that has laid off 60% of their staff in the last two years. After a 30-minute conversation with them, I can confirm there is significant dysfunction in how they operate and how leadership approaches their business. I withdrew my application the same day.

The interview process at Caribou was really clear and comprehensive. They shared the interview questions before each meeting with different team members, which helped me prepare my responses and show them what I could do. It seemed like Caribou was more focused on assessing my experience and how I'd fit with the company rather than trying to trick me with tough questions, which is something I've seen at other places. I had to do a take-home assignment/case study that was pretty standard compared to what I've done for similar roles elsewhere. The recruiter, Sarah, was great at keeping in touch and checking in at different points. It was impressive how responsive she was, especially since the interviews were happening around the end of the year holidays.