Applied for Product Owner role. Interviewed at their Reading office. Complete waste of time if you are looking for a job.
I have had over 50+ interviews across many large companies and I know when someone is wasting your time..
As soon as you arrive they give you a sheet of paper with their “PO exercise” - they ask you to bring your own laptop with you to complete the exercise. As soon as I arrived, I was left in a room by myself for 2 hours to complete this exercise. After preparing the exercise I was asked to present the results for 5mins. So in total I was only given 5mins of their time, which I think is an absolute joke if you’ve travelled to their office for an interview.
I think a few things from this experience:
1. They interview candidates for fun with no intention of offering them the job - the role I applied for is constantly advertised on their website and hasn’t disappeared. They must invite candidates in all the time just to give them this exercise and give them only 5mins of their time; very clever from their side as they don’t have to commit any time with you!
2. They have a very well refined a PO exercise which they told me they always give to candidates and even asked me for feedback on how to improve their exercise for future candidates. (What a joke, this shows the number of people they must invite for interviews and waste their time)
3. They don’t have time for you - as with any interview you get ready, travel there etc I think it’s only polite and professional that the interviewer also gives you some of their time. Asking someone to complete an exercise for 2 hours in a room by themselves with only 5mins of speaking to them when I had to present the exercise is rude.
Overall, I had high expectations for sage but felt let down. I don’t really write reviews but sharing this experience with others so you don’t waste your time.