I applied online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Canonical (Toronto, ON)
Interview
I recently went through the interview process at Canonical and was left extremely disappointed. The process was unnecessarily lengthy and time-consuming, and the questions asked were often irrelevant and bizarre. First, I was asked to complete a lengthy questionnaire that delved into irrelevant details of my past, such as my high school math grade and reasons for excelling in math. This felt like a waste of time, as these skills have little relevance to the software engineering position I was applying for. Next, I was required to take a psychometric assessment that took over an hour to complete. This online test was equally irrelevant and seemed to have little bearing on my qualifications for the role. After completing these time-consuming tasks, I received a rejection email without any explanation or feedback. Subsequent follow-up emails have gone unanswered, which I find incredibly unprofessional. I would strongly advise anyone considering applying to Canonical to reconsider. The interview process is unnecessarily lengthy and frustrating, and the company seems to have little respect for candidates' time. Don't waste your time with this company!
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How did you know you were good at math in high school?
The interview process was well organized, with clear communication at every stage. Recruiters kept me informed, responded promptly, and ensured I understood the next steps throughout the process it was rewarding
Brutally long and difficult. They take their time so only apply if you have time and are dedicated to open source tech.
That being said they are very communicative so if you have any questions its not such a black box.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
They'll ask for specific niche aspects of coding languages to check if you actually use them day to day.
It's an extremely long process that includes standardized tests, take home assignments, and several rounds of interviews. It was at least 5 rounds long and you interview across different teams.
Canonical interviews FAQs
Software Engineer applicants have rated the interview process at Canonical with 3.2 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 16% positive. To compare, the company-average is 14.9% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
Candidates applying for Software Engineer roles take an average of 53 days to get hired, when considering 155 user submitted interviews for this role. To compare, the hiring process at Canonical overall takes an average of 51 days.
Common stages of the interview process at Canonical as a Software Engineer according to 155 Glassdoor interviews include:
Personality test: 19%
Skills test: 19%
IQ intelligence test: 17%
One on one interview: 16%
Phone interview: 12%
Other: 7%
Presentation: 3%
Background check: 3%
Group panel interview: 2%
Drug test: 1%
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