Coolblue Interview Questions
& Process

I had a recruiter call first, and then they quickly set up a technical interview with two team leads. I thought that was great because they were fast. But in the second interview, the team leads mostly asked behavioral questions. For example, they asked 'How would you deal with someone who isn’t performing well?' I said I'd try to mentor and help them get back on track. After the interview, they called to say I was rejected because they wanted someone who would 'be direct.' Apparently, they meant confrontational rather than helpful. That’s when I realized the rumors about Coolblue’s toxic culture might be true, and this interview confirmed it.

This was the initial interview for a C# Developer role in Rotterdam. I had applied for a similar position previously but was rejected. A friend referred me this time, and I got to the first interview. When I checked the application link, it showed the position was filled, which became clear during the recruiter's call. The recruiter seemed to indicate they weren't hiring much and the salary was a major issue. I'm on a Highly Skilled Migrant Visa, and Dutch law mandates a certain gross monthly salary (around 5700). I asked for 6000 based on my 8+ years of experience, but the recruiter was hesitant, calling it a dealbreaker. The interview continued with her filling out a form, and she eventually stated that we weren't proceeding due to salary and automated testing concerns. Many large firms have separate QA roles, and despite claiming to be large, they apparently lack this structure. I rated myself 5/10 on automated QA skills (knowing Selenium and Playwright) as she stressed it was crucial. The call ended early, with the recruiter asking questions already covered in my application, which was frustrating as she didn't seem updated. I felt she was obligated to conduct the interview and fill her form. I'm disappointed with the recruiter's attitude and feel it was a waste of my time. I won't apply again while she works there. Learning new tech is easy for developers, and candidates might not fit 100% of the description; companies should be more supportive and look for learning potential rather than reasons to reject. The recruiter also didn't ask if I had any questions.

The process takes about 2 hours. First, you'll get instructions on how to properly lift and move a dryer or washing machine using the right techniques. Then, you'll lift a machine together with other applicants, first a 30kg one, then a 60kg, and finally a 100kg one. After that, you'll go through an obstacle course with a colleague and the heaviest machine. Next, you'll go up and down one floor with the colleague and the heaviest machine. Finally, there's a role-playing exercise to test customer service skills, followed by an introductory chat.

First, you upload your CV and cover letter. If that's positive, the recruiter invites you for a short phone call. After this, you will be invited for an online assessment. If that went well, you'll get an invitation for an interview (with a recruiter and marketer) at the office. After this conversation, I was NEVER called back and no contact was made with me. It's understandable if there are better candidates, but not giving feedback after a personal conversation I don't find professional.