Voltus Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process included a recruiter screening call, a 45-minute interview with the hiring manager, a 90-minute panel coding interview where we had to pre-read a package and then build a working python API live while discussing tradeoffs, a 45-minute call with the VP Engineering, and finally a 30-minute call with the President. While most interviewers were great, the President was 20 minutes late, drove during the interview, and asked rapid-fire questions. He was condescending and pressured me about leaving my job. If the hiring manager had acted like that, I wouldn't have continued. It's disappointing that despite strong-hire ratings from others, the President vetoed my application. Be ready for this if you interview at Voltus.

So the whole interview thing took about a month, and it was like 4 or 5 rounds in total. First, I talked to a recruiter, then I had a call with the manager. After that, there was a take-home assessment. Then, I had to present that assessment, and also do a live SQL coding session. The last step was a call with the manager's manager.

The overall interview process was fine. The first interview was a 15-minute intro call with the hiring manager. I then met with the senior product designer for the second interview, where they asked about my portfolio and projects. After a week without hearing back, I contacted the hiring manager, who stated I didn't meet their qualifications. I asked for more details, but they were unable to provide them. I think they have high expectations for all hires and want candidates who are knowledgeable and passionate about sustainable energy and can answer questions perfectly.

The interview process was well-organized, even during holidays, and included several management levels. I had concerns about the role's scope, which seemed more fitting for junior candidates despite my 10+ years of experience. The evaluation task felt overly challenging for my background. The initial offer was below industry and my previous salary, and it was unusual to require verbal acceptance before a written offer. The compensation package wasn't competitive with my past roles or another offer I received. The hiring manager's dismissive reaction when I brought this up suggested a lack of commitment to competitive pay. Their unprofessional communication, including early morning and late-night texts, influenced my decision. Ultimately, I declined the offer for another opportunity due to the terms and the overall hiring experience. I hope this feedback leads to improvements in their candidate experience, compensation, and communication strategies.