The interview process is not set in stone. In the past, some candidates have received offers after just one round, while others have gone through up to five conversations in order to iron out their ideal position. Being a dynamic company, we are willing to explore different routes in order to accommodate good talent in our environment.
At Open Box we value ability over experience; we’d rather have someone smart and motivated who hasn’t seen it all, over someone who’s got the mileage but has succumbed to a comfort zone in their career.
We also value positive, pleasant, friendly people. Unlike some companies, we prefer to avoid politics, conflict, ego-clashes and petty fights.
A general word of advice: Catbert has on various occasions had graduates' parents (predominantly mothers) calling to discuss their little darlings’ careers. HR is not against chatting to them; but be warned: any information retrieved from chatting to your mommy might be used against you in a team correspondence, fines evening, or company newsletter!
And one last tip: shave, get a haircut, and dress smart. Casual dress may be the norm at Open Box, but it’s important for you to put your best foot forward. Remember, first impressions count!
1st Round If we think you may have what it takes to be part of the Open Box team, we will call you to set up a first round interview. This interview is mostly conversational and aims to:
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Tell you more about us. After all, you are interviewing us an employer as much as we are interviewing you as a candidate! Do we share your values? Are we the sort of people who you would want to work with?
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Tell you about the work. Is what we have to offer in line with what you are looking to do? Do you possess the necessarily skills to keep up in our challenging environment?
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Find out more about you. What are your passions, goals and direction in life?
2nd Round If we feel that we’re moving in the same direction after the first round, we’ll schedule a skills assessment second round interview. This interview is all about thinking on your feet and putting your money where your mouth is! The focus is not around knowing obscure terminology, fancy methodologies, intricate frameworks or specific syntax. Rather, it’s about showing us that you can think in a creative, logical manner, and can communicate that thinking clearly.
3rd Round Once the second round is complete, all the interviewers involved to date put their heads together and discuss whether there is a potential position for the candidate. If there is a positive consensus, we set up a third round interview, with the intention of discussing (if not supplying) an offer. Here we discuss what the specific role would be, and some of the administrative questions around timelines and packages. We believe that people should never burn bridges with their previous employers. For this reason, we encourage people to move when they are ready, and not due to any pressure from our side.