Paro Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process here is quite something. I had to reschedule the demo role play, and they sent over an interview outline. After a family emergency, I asked to reschedule, which they agreed to, and sent over the needed materials the day before the interview as I'd asked. But then, after I sent them the materials, they canceled, saying it wasn't what they wanted, and cut me from consideration. Looking back, I met every requirement. They also rejected my friend for the same role after he got sick with COVID and needed to reschedule. My advice? Avoid interviewing here if this is how they treat potential employees.

I applied for the role and was scheduled for an interview, but I ended up canceling the day of. My feedback is based on the process so far and my general impression of the company. I'm a local CPA who recently started my own practice. I've noticed ads for Paro.IO, which seems like a middleman service using expensive Google ads. They present themselves as a freelance platform but require an extensive process, including tests and interviews, similar to a high-paying salaried job. This seems excessive for the low-paid freelance work offered, with no guaranteed work. The process felt too time-consuming for the potential reward. It might suit someone unemployed or looking for supplemental income, but the demands are unrealistic for experienced professionals. They take a very large cut of revenue, reportedly over 50%. For established local accounting firms, they don't seem to pose a threat. They appear to be an unlicensed company relying heavily on costly advertising to reach a wide audience. While they claim to attract top finance professionals, the reported pay rates ($20/hour) suggest otherwise.

First, I had an initial call with the recruiter where they asked basic questions about my background and career aspirations. Following that, I had a 45-minute interview with the hiring manager. At the end of our talk, the hiring manager expressed interest in a more in-depth conversation and said the recruiter would arrange it. However, I didn't hear back from the recruiter and had to follow up multiple times. Their response was just 'hold tight while we go through our candidates. We'll reach back out soon on next steps.' I never heard back, even after several more attempts to follow up. I really dislike this runaround and lack of communication, as it suggests how one might be treated if hired.

It was an easygoing process, they wanted to get to know me first. There were additional tests to make sure I knew what I was doing. Everything was done remotely and they seemed flexible with clients. They really did their best to pair me with clients and industries I felt comfortable with and had worked with before. Even though accounting is accounting, it still has differences between real estate and restaurant accounting.