I applied online and heard back from the recruiter the next day.
First Round:
They sent me a link for an online assessment/interview — pretty simple questions like how I prioritize a backlog, something I’ve led from start to finish, and how I define a roadmap. I submitted it, and that was the last I ever heard from the recruiter. After that, the hiring manager took over and handled everything.
Second round:
This was with the hiring manager and another person. The hiring manager made me feel very welcome. The questions were around my experience, day-to-day work, and a few technical topics. It was a normal interview — nothing out of the ordinary. Both were kind, respectful, and seemed genuinely interested in getting to know my background.
Third round:
This was an in-person assessment with the team, although only one person was actually in the office (which I was taken by surprise - I figured maybe all or most would come in office to do a working session but I was wrong). Everyone else joined online. It was a scenario-based session around their digital platform console product where they gave me a situation of a client asking for something, and questions around how I’d approach it. They asked questions throughout, and while it felt a bit like being grilled at times, I stayed calm and answered everything as best as I could. The team seemed nice and honest in their responses when I asked questions, which I really appreciated. From this, I could tell that there was no process of working, and many developers were wearing many hats, which made me question the environment but because of how well I thought the working session went, I was still very excited to join.
Fourth round:
This was the round that completely changed my impression. It was supposed to be a behavioural interview with the hiring manager, the person I’d be working with closely, and a product line lead (been at the company 20+ years). Right from the start, the product line lead's tone was off. He came across as impatient and dismissive — cutting me off mid-sentence, saying things like “be specific,” “be quick,” “get to the point.” It wasn’t constructive, it was just rude. He didn’t seem focused or interested in actually listening. What made it worse was that the other interviewer — the one I’d be working closely with — was smirking while the product line lead asked questions, almost as if I was being put on the spot for amusement. The whole thing felt very uncomfortable. It wasn't even the questions, but I don't think they liked the way I went about answering the question or possibly my professional examples. About 30-35 minutes into what was supposed to be a one-hour interview, the product line lead abruptly dropped off the call without saying anything other than "I have to leave, bye bye, nice to meet you". I was in the middle of answering a question for the product line lead, while he was leaving. I looked at the time, and was in utter shock. I figured we can continue without him, but the hiring manager then said, “Well, we know you already, so no other questions,” and wrapped up the interview. I left that call feeling disrespected, confused, and honestly shocked. This was a scheduled interview that had been confirmed weeks in advance, and yet it felt like I was an inconvenience to them. It completely changed how I viewed the company and its culture. Luckily, I was interviewing with other companies at the time and was offered — and accepted — a more senior role at a direct competitor of Roche. The difference in professionalism and respect during that process was night and day. How Roche preaches about collaboration, inclusion, and respect should also be reflected in how candidates are treated. Actions should match words especially from very senior leaders.
Overall:
The process started out well — quick communication, kind team members and hiring manager, and a sense of organization. But it ended in a way that made me question how the team treats their employees and candidates and moreover, the internal processes they have.
