I didn't want to write a review, because I was mad for so long, but I guess someone, especially Skyscanner, can benefit from this feedback.
I've had interviews with big 4 companies (which Skyscanner is kinda trying to copy IMO) and if you expect as much as big 4 companies and pay much less, you should at least try harder with the recruiting process.
Main problems:
- inititial interview was robotic and impersonal, the recruiter was reading questions from a script and writing down my answers without even looking at me. At this point I was already pissed off, but decided to continue the process anyway.
- assessment centre: I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Comparing again to other interviews I've had, recruiters usually tell you what sort of questions to prepare for - algorithms and data structures, trivia questions, system design, domain-specific problems. Not at Skyscanner! You are left in the dark. I was prepared for something completely different, which caused me great stress and in the end, I didn't do so well.
- another minor, but very unpleasant experience was that in one of the group interviews, I was the only girl in my group and that usually doesn't bother me, but oh boy, this time was exceptional. The atmosphere was super competitive and every time I tried to suggest something, I was interrupted by someone, dismissing my ideas. The moderator was looking at his phone all the time, seeming super bored. I started panicking that I will get a negative assessment because I wasn't allowed to say anything, so to be finally heard and show what I know, I almost had to raise my voice and tell people to shut up & let me finish. Not a situation I enjoy to be in. The classical gender bias problem I guess, and it's not exactly the company's fault, but that shouldn't happen at an interview. However, I did well on this part, despite the fact it felt terrible.
Overall I'm left with a very bad taste in my mouth and I doubt I will be applying again.