I applied to a few admin openings.
Each had a vague description of who/where in the company the person would be expected to support but I was fascinated with Palantir’s mission and wanted to explore the available opportunities.
1st -Coordinator contacted me by email to set up a phone screen
2nd -A few days later had a 30 min. call with an admin assistant. After, I was sent demos of their platforms to review and had to sign a non-disclosure
3rd -A week later a 1.5-hour panel video interview with 3 additional admin assistants
4th -Few days later another 1.5-hour panel video interview including 2 additional admin assistants and finally, 1 Human Resources member
5th -Few days later another 30 min. video interview with 1 more admin assistant
1. During the setup of each of these interviews I had to ask the coordinator who I’d be interviewing with (names…etc.)
2. In each of these interviews, I was asked situational questions, often the same generic ones.
3. With each person I spoke with, I was trying to gain further context as to which admin position they thought I was interviewing for, but no one was able to provide concrete input into where I would be placed if hired, i.e., (location/section/group)
4. In my last video screen, the interviewer said she moved out of an admin role and her group was looking for an admin. Based on that statement, I asked her if this person would be potentially joining her group, she said she didn’t know, and I needed to ask the interview coordinator to gain further context.
…I followed up after with the interview coordinator after and she didn’t know either.
5. A few days later, I got a no-reply, generic decline email.
My takeaways:
1. I understand interview processes, it’s a great way to see if it’s a good fit on both sides but Palantir’s process is extremely time consuming, vague, and oddly structured.
2. I sensed that they were just casually interviewing me with seemingly no end in sight for concrete answers. Some of interviewers didn’t even look at my resume, were reading questions off a screen and didn’t seem all that interested.
3. I’ve interviewed at higher-ranking companies and had much more enjoyable experiences. Palantir was just awful. Don’t waste your time.
