Our Hiring Team on How to Ace Any Formlabs Interview
In order to build a new industry, you have to build the best team. That’s why no other department may be quite as important to the future of Formlabs as Recruiting. How else could we have grown from our humble beginnings in a Boston basement to six global offices in under a decade?
Our recruiters are generally your first point of contact at Formlabs, so it’s crucial to make a good impression on them. Whether you’re interested in becoming a Material Scientist at our US headquarters, a Software Developer in Budapest, or a Sales Specialist in Berlin, read on to learn the best bits of advice from our in-house experts.
What would you recommend to candidates applying for any position at Formlabs?
- Always upload your resume as a PDF
Combing through hundreds of CVs per day, no one knows our recruiting software better than EMEA Recruiting Lead Andrew VanCamp. His advice? “Always upload your resume in PDF format to ensure it translates properly into the system. Otherwise, you might not get proper recognition for all your relevant skills and accolades.”
2. Always be honest
Here at Formlabs, we value honest, open communication both internally and externally. Elexa Broder of our US Recruiting team advises candidates be honest about their career journeys. “Recruiters understand that being let go of a job does not define a candidate, but honesty is paramount to building trust in the interview process.”
What should candidates not do when applying for a position at Formlabs?
- Don’t apologize for nerding out
Whether it be in your cover letter, on your resume, or during an interview, Broder recommends, “Do not apologize for nerding out or getting excited about a project you worked on, or your general interests — we love hearing about it!” If you’re not excited, the person evaluating hundreds of applicants per day certainly won’t be.
2. …But don’t apply to every job, either
While we love your enthusiasm, VanCamp advises against applying to every single job on the Careers Page at one time as it could hurt, not help, your chances of getting an interview. “While it’s okay to apply for a few jobs in the same area, showing interest in too many different teams makes it challenging for recruiters to see where you fit. It also comes off as disingenuous.”
How can candidates best prepare for their interview?
- Research, research, research…
“Do some research about the organization and the product line prior to the interview,” said Joe McLauchlan, US Senior Technical Recruiter. Broder adds that even doing a quick Google News search of the company you’re interviewing with is always a good idea. “Perhaps they just brought a new product to market, closed a funding round, acquired another company, or hired a new leader. Incorporate this research into the questions you ask: how will this new change impact the future of the company, and this role specifically?”
2. …Then ask awesome questions
And once you score an interview, both McLauchlan and Broder recommend asking thoughtful questions during your meeting, especially those relevant to the role, the company, or industry trends. “This is your time to get the best insight you can about what it is like to be a Formling. Anyone can read reviews and research Formlabs online, but you’ll get the best insight from the individuals that are already on the team,” McLauchlan said. In other words, it’s as much an interview for us as it is for you!
3. Practice with friends & family
Don’t be shy: practicing talking about your career journey with your friends and family members will not only help bring you clarity about what you want, but give you plenty of practice for interview day. “You want to feel comfortable talking about your career growth, setbacks, and lessons learned, but you won’t want to sound robotic. The more you talk about this casually and informally, the more you’ll build confidence, and the more ‘human’ you will sound, and comfortable you will feel,” Broder said.
4. Secure a quiet location with good Wi-Fi & headphones
Lastly, VanCamp’s rule of thumb is especially relevant now due to the leveraging of video call software during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Please, please, please always have headphones with a mic ready for the call, and make sure you are somewhere quiet with a good internet connection.”
Formlabs is growing fast. Join us! Head over to our careers page to learn about our current open roles and how you can help us build the future.
Better yet — want to work in Recruiting alongside Andrew, Elexa, and Joe? If you suspect you may be the perfect fit, don’t hesitate to apply for our open Recruiter positions in Berlin and Budapest.