Gaggle Interview Questions
& Process

The initial interview was about my interest in the role and learning about the company, and it was with someone currently in the position. I really enjoyed that chat. After that, I had a 2-hour interview with the Senior Account Executive and the VP of Operations. During this interview, I was asked to go down memory lane about every job on my resume and give the names of my managers. This felt odd since I have references and figured Gaggle could contact my past employers for the info. I haven't talked to some past managers in years, and many don't work at those places anymore. It was also tough to find 2 hours for this while I was employed. I heard from a colleague who interviewed with a competitor, and their process wasn't invasive.

The first two interviews were straightforward and enjoyable, marked by positive interactions, a good culture vibe, and the exchange of great ideas. However, there was a bait and switch. The final stage involved a hiring manager who asked exceptionally specific questions, more so than I've encountered before. Typically, corporate interviews have three stages: an initial screening for basic qualifications and culture fit, a second technical interview to assess job-specific skills, and a final culture fit and sign-off round. That wasn't the case here. This interviewer demanded the names of every single boss I've had over the past decade, the exact clients I worked with, what my former colleagues would say about me based on past work, and specific numerical ratings they'd give me. It was relentless and very assertive. While I don't mind providing references I select as a final step, especially towards an offer, as a technical worker I've rarely experienced this. This information-gathering was excessive and felt disrespectful. The interviewer was also consuming a lot of company time. Such an invasive process doesn't seem necessary to make business decisions that could be determined through a more standard, friendly interview. After two and a half grueling hours of constant questioning, the interviewer still wanted the names and phone numbers of all my past managers. At that point, I realized this wasn't normal. Checking Glassdoor confirmed my suspicions, with other reviews highlighting similar issues. I noticed negative comments about Gaggle's treatment of lower-ranked employees, suggesting broader company issues and a lack of sensitivity or even aggression in their responses. Even if developers are treated well, the company's overall standing is poor if other staff are mistreated. I decided to withdraw from the process, and they didn't respond.

After applying, I got an email from HR the next day and they had me pick a time from her calendar to chat. The call was supposed to be half an hour but it went by super fast, I didn't learn much about the company and couldn't ask questions. Afterwards, she sent me a link to book the next interview with someone else. It was supposed to be an hour technical interview over Google Hangouts, but it also ended up being only a half hour.

Had two initial web conference interviews, followed by a final 4-hour web conference interview with the same person. This last one felt like an interrogation, going through my entire background from day one. It was way too intrusive. I've done 4-hour panel interviews before without issue, but this was just too much. Afterwards, I decided I wouldn't want to work for a company that needs that level of detail before hiring. They didn't offer me the role, and I only found out because I asked. After such a personal intrusion, I expected them to at least have the courtesy to let me know.