Interview Experience with companies in Indonesia.

Spotify
¯\_ツ_/¯

Go to company page Spotify

¯\_ツ_/¯
Dec 12, 2021 30 Comments

Update 8/2/2022:
Finally I got feedback from OVO that I don’t get the job because I’m overqualified, I guess this the polite way to reject me after 4 interviews that span from 27 October 2021 until 8 February 2022.
And still no feedback from Grab.
I might need referral for Indonesian companies. Feel free to pm me, thanks.

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I’m thinking to move back to Indonesia as I’m originally from Indonesia. Been working/living abroad for more than 15 years.

I’ve been interviewed by many companies around the world during my career, and recently had 2 interviews process with Grab and OVO in Indonesia.

For the interview process, these companies have a similar pattern, reach you through WhatsApp, all the interview scheduled through WhatsApp. I thought this a new scam in the beginning, but apparently this is the way how their work. Not really comfortable with this approach.

Interview process:
Grab, after interviewed by hiring manager based on Singapore, I didn’t get any feedback nor thank you letter, totally disappeared 👻.
OVO, been through 3 interviews, and the last round was VP , same, no feedback nor thank you letter, totally disappeared 👻.

Interviewers:
All of the hiring managers are non-Indonesian, and they are very pushy during the interview. They don’t give you time to explain, feels like they don’t need any engagement, just questions and answers. And the worse part, they don’t really respect the interview time. The hiring managers asking to extend the interview, which is not really professional imho.

I wondering how the experienced people who has working/living abroad for many years can get back to Indonesia and adapt to this kind culture. Not to mention the other role process, how many of the interviewees been ghosted. Btw, I applied the principal engineer and senior EM in those 2 companies.

I still don’t lose my hope to get back to Indonesia, hopefully this post can reach the higher management for the sake of their interview process.

Pengen Pulang kampung 🤗
#indonesia #ghosted #experience

Update: I reworded some term to be not race specific after receiving constructive feedback, even though the original intention is to raise the awareness of losing Indonesia talents.

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TOP 30 Comments
  • Sysdig
    Badabing!=

    Go to company page Sysdig

    Badabing!=
    Maybe this is more of a culture in Asia, especially since you’re accustomed to US companies?

    I worked in Asian countries before and it was very different than US or Europe.

    For example:

    - many companies ask that you include a PICTURE in your resume
    - I had numerous interviewers asked me if I am married (why does it matter?)

    Working hours were also different. I had interview with one of the largest company in Singapore at …. 6 PM Singapore local time (?!). When I arrived, I still see people working there and when I was done at 8 pm, people were still working.

    These were years ago so I don’t know how it is right now. But it was bad enough that I went back to the US.
    Feb 6 6
    • Sysdig
      WalaWalaTi

      Go to company page Sysdig

      WalaWalaTi
      No, I am not Indonesian.

      Like I said, none of us say it’s “rude”. It’s just how it is. Even in Singapore, some of the application form I have to filled out asked similar question.

      I also didn’t say that discrimination doesn’t exist in the US, but show me where private companies in the US have application form that asked about your marital status.

      I’ll wait….
      Mar 23
    • Sysdig
      WalaWalaTi

      Go to company page Sysdig

      WalaWalaTi
      @Ubisoft: not sure what happened to my previous reply but it's gone. Anyway, I am re-posting but it's not the same exact words as I don't remember:

      Please go back and read OP and my post. We didn't say it's rude nor we generalize.

      I have put ACTUAL example of a job posting with age requirement and marital status as of 2022. This is NOT a "2000s" job description as you said.

      These will NOT be posted in US job posting.

      If there is, please provide example and I can submit a complaint in EEOC site.

      As I said, I will wait if you can find such posting in the US.
      Mar 23
  • Tesco
    Fpmw01

    Go to company page Tesco

    Fpmw01
    Find a good remote job and work from there if the culture is so behind/different.
    Dec 12, 2021 1
  • Why are all the hiring managers Indian? Are they based in indonesia?
    Dec 12, 2021 4
    • Spotify
      ¯\_ツ_/¯

      Go to company page Spotify

      ¯\_ツ_/¯
      OP
      The HR is Indonesian, but not the hiring manager.
      I’m based in Sweden.
      I don’t know what’s going on, but 3 weeks back OVO reached me out for another extra round for interview, and after that they disappeared … again.
      It already 2-3 months the interview process. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

      I don’t know how hard is to be transparent by saying, “oh we still reviewing, please wait”, or just say “oh, you’re not the one we’re looking for, so bye“.
      If someone from OVO, please convey this message to your HR department. thanks.
      Feb 1
    • Ubisoft
      yLcC27

      Go to company page Ubisoft

      yLcC27
      I'm not from OVO. Its weird you don't get an indonesian hiring manager.

      Anyway, its pretty rare to see sde 3 and above moving back to Indo for the same position. It's more typical to gun for managerial position so it may work against you there. Try bklpk maybe
      Feb 2
  • New
    nVut16

    New

    nVut16
    Hey, I work at CoLearn, Hitme up if you want to chat, CoLearn is a edtech company fixing education in Indonesia
    Dec 12, 2021 1
  • New
    anoname

    New

    anoname
    Try Gojek/ Tokopedia if looking for principal engineer? And a lot of tech startups are hiring head of engineering/ engineering manager (more opportunities compared to principal position)
    - BukuWarung
    - Zenius
    - Halodoc
    - Grab
    Etc.
    Feb 23 0