Real, anonymous reports from people who interviewed for UX/UI Designer at Whova, newest first and distilled into what to expect across the loop.
I got pulled into the process with a fairly “normal” first step, but it quickly turned into the kind of experience where the work feels like it’s for the company, not for hiring. After a screening, I was given a take-home task that required about a week of nonstop effort. I submitted it and then sat waiting—no acknowledgment, no confirmation that it was received, just total silence.
I started with a one-on-one virtual interview with a co-founder. They seemed genuinely nice, just a bit reserved, and it quickly became clear they weren’t interviewing for roles like mine very often. I wasn’t really asked to walk through my portfolio projects, and they didn’t seem fully fluent in what the scope of video production would be. The tone felt casual, almost like they were trying to assess whether I’d fit in rather than deeply evaluate my work.
Candidates often experience a lack of structure in interviews, with many feeling that the focus is on scrutinizing their backgrounds rather than evaluating their design skills. This can create a confrontational atmosphere, making candidates feel defensive rather than engaged.
The interview process frequently includes extensive, unpaid take-home design tasks that require significant effort, often without acknowledgment or timely feedback, leading candidates to feel undervalued and exhausted.
Candidates report poor communication throughout the process, including ghosting after interviews and lack of closure after submitting work, which contributes to a feeling of disrespect and frustration.
Interviews often include irrelevant questions and assessments that feel more like quizzes than discussions about design thinking, which can detract from the candidate's ability to showcase their skills effectively.
Some interviews focus on assessing cultural fit rather than technical skills, with casual conversations that may not delve deeply into the candidate's portfolio or design experience, leaving candidates uncertain about their fit for the role.
The overall experience can feel chaotic and unprofessional, with candidates expressing feelings of being used for their ideas rather than being genuinely evaluated for a role, leading to a negative impression of the company.