Glowforge Interview Questions
& Process

Got contacted by the company recruiter on LinkedIn. Took the call despite some doubts about the company's reviews because the product was cool. First, a 30-minute chat with the recruiter. Then, a sequence of video calls: one 30-minute, one 90-minute, and three 60-minute calls spread over 5 weeks. Unlike typical interviews where different interviewers cover different topics, these rounds lacked focus. Many interviewers asked the same questions repeatedly, which was awkward. It's uncertain if this was a lack of communication or a deliberate test. The interviewers seemed very similar in background. After most calls, except the 90-minute one, the recruiter checked in on my interest. My interest waned after the last call due to the lack of clarity on role expectations and the homogeneous interview panel. I didn't follow up, and a few weeks later, I received a standard email from their ATS.

Started with a screening interview with the Chief of Staff, then it expanded to include the CEO, a Direct Report, the CHRO, and IT. The process abruptly ended with a denial for the next interview. The first three interviews went really well. However, the subsequent interviews involved people who seemed unaware of the role's responsibilities, even though the role would report to one of them. The perspective of viewing department headcount solely as a line item on a balance sheet isn't a sustainable way to manage a department. While I'm sure they are competent in their own roles, this department needs clear direction from the CEO.

You gotta sign an NDA first. Then there was a 20 minute phone screening with HR, just a meet and greet to talk about my background and the job. But honestly, after like 5 minutes of me talking, it just turned into them pitching the product to me for 15 minutes, talking about how well the company is doing. It felt weird for a design role interview. The next interview was more of the same, like a sales pitch. They asked really specific questions about their business problems, which seemed to be about their lack of growth. It felt like they were reading from a script and taking notes the whole time, which was kinda annoying and made it feel one-sided. It went from a conversation about the job to them just fishing for ideas. I almost ended it because it felt like they weren't actually hiring but just wanted my ideas for their website. This job posting seems to be up forever and never filled. They're not trying to hire, just get free ideas. It was a total waste of my time. If they want ideas for their site, they should do a focus group instead of wasting people's time with fake job postings.

The interview process started out pretty standard for the industry. The first phone interview was a typical 'get to know you' with questions about strengths and weaknesses. The second interview was a technical test during a one-hour video call. The third interview, also by video, was with the manager of the team I would have joined. Throughout the three interviews, I was repeatedly told I was a great fit and would be a great hire. After the third interview, I was told to expect a written offer by the end of the week. After two weeks with no offer, I was informed the company was undergoing major changes and couldn't offer the position. Thankfully, I hadn't quit my old job, so it was understandable, though disappointing. They asked if they could keep my info on file for when the position reopened. A month or two later, Glowforge contacted me again, asking if I was still interested and even offered a higher salary. I confirmed I was eager to accept and was told to expect a written offer in the coming days. Again, I waited nearly two weeks for the offer before they rescinded it again, citing 'growing pains' from their latest restructure. My experience seems to match other reviews where the people you talk to are pleasant and well-intentioned, but the process is out of sync with the company's needs, leading to candidates being strung along for months.