Every new Rocket Scientist goes through the same multi-step recruitment process with the same technical wringers. Its purpose is to make sure that both sides truly understand each other, without being blinded by any fancy-schmancy marketing talk or CV baloney.

When you lock eyes with an attractive employer-to-be, the recruitment process can seem like the beginning of a beautiful story. Longing gazes, questions flying back and forth, emotions flaring: could this really be the one?

“Switching jobs is a big, life-altering decision. That’s why we always approach every recruitment from a human angle,” explains Tessi Reispakka, Rakettitiede’s Growth Lead (i.e. top Rocket Ship Recruiter). “Although we want to grow the business, we also want to focus on the person behind the keyboard.”

We’re allergic to any hype or jargon, and we always talk about things as they are. This approach to honesty is also visible in our recruitment process. “Our aim is to make every applicant feel like they gained something, regardless of whether there’s sparks flying or things just fizzle out”, says Rakettitiede recruiter Karri.

Rakettitiede’s approach has remained the same for the past 11 years: the best experts, great clients, and a strict no BS attitude. That’s why Rakettitiede has – depending on the prospective hire’s wishes – a three or four-step recruitment dance that allows both sides to suss out whether they’re a match.

“Everyone goes through the same process, since we want to treat all applicants equally,” Tessi explains.

While the process isn’t always a walk in the park, it’s designed to be as fair as possible.

“Our aim is to make every applicant feel like they gained something, regardless of whether there’s sparks flying or things just fizzle out,” says Karri Kallela, Rocket Ship Recruiter #2. “We want to be as honest and open as we can.”

The steps to our recruitment process

Rakettitiede’s recruitment process includes getting to know your future colleagues, taking a deep dive into your approach to software development, and having frank discussions about how the sausage is made.

#1 Initial discussion – finding out if you and Rakettitiede are a match made in digital heaven

The first step is a 30–45-minute discussion with either Karri or Tessi.

“We get to know the applicant, they get to know us, and then we talk about Rakettitiede as a workplace and what kinds of assignments we can offer them,” Karri explains.

This step also involves going through the following steps of the recruitment process.

“We typically handle this part very quickly and flexibly. When you have such a low hierarchy as Rakettitiede does, you don’t need to seek your manager’s approval for every single decision,” Tessi notes.

After the call, the applicant is free to browse through the company’s compensation model and FAQs.

#2 Technical interview – inspiration, development suggestions, and feedback

If things seem to be getting serious after the first chat, the applicant is invited to a technical interview.

The technical interview isn’t a code-‘til-you-drop event but an opportunity to learn and see whether an applicant’s approach and skills match what Rakettitiede has to offer. “By making sure that you’re as good as you say you are, we can feel confident in promising our clients and Rocket Scientists that our consultants are the cream of the crop, no matter the assignment”, says Tessi, another Rakettitiede recruiter.

This step involves going through a sample of the applicant’s code. “But it’s not a code review or anything,” Tessi emphasizes and explains that the code sample doesn’t need to be their latest or greatest creation.

And don’t worry about faxing us your sample in advance. “It’s just a tool that we use to guide our conversation. It helps us see how you think and what you know,” Tessi continues.

In addition to Tessi, the technical interview also includes two technical experts from the company. The most important bit is making sure that the applicant also feels that they’ve received something for their time.

“When you let senior developers get together and talk shop, you may learn a thing or two on the side,” Tessi says. “Our technical experts are there to help our potential recruit understand their strengths and development areas.”

“Our technical experts are there to help our potential recruit understand their strengths and development areas.”

This way, both sides can assess if they have something to offer to each other and whether their approaches align.

Even if a candidate’s journey ends before they reach the technical finish line, they aren’t leaving empty-handed. At its best, the technical interview can provide senior-level developers with a new spark to their career.

“When an applicant gives us their time, we want to give them something in return,” Tessi says.

“If your journey ends here, you will still receive a well-thought-out feedback report by the next working day,” Tessi guarantees. The report often contains several suggestions on where the applicant could improve. And every applicant is also free to ring back and talk about their feedback.

But why does the process involve a technical interview?

“It’s an opportunity to learn something new and find out whether your skills are where they need to be and if they match what we have to offer. By making sure that you’re as good as you say you are, we can feel confident in promising our clients and Rocket Scientists that our consultants are the cream of the crop, no matter the assignment,” Tessi says.

Viktoriia, Rocket Scientist #54, gives tips on how to nail the technical interview. Read more here: Navigating technical interviews.

#3 Developer meetup – your chance to pick the brain of a Rakettitiede consultant

*The developer meetup is an opportunity to meet with another Rakettitiede developer to hear what a consultant’s life is like inside the Rocket Ship.*

If an applicant is feeling extra social, they can meet up with another Rakettitiede developer to hear what a consultant’s life is like inside the Rocket Ship.

It’s a strictly informal meeting that may or may not involve food or coffee, either in real life or over a digital connection – it’s up to every applicant. But the main selling point is that it allows an applicant to pick someone’s brain and find out what they know.

“It’s the perfect opportunity to ask another developer about the job and what it entails,” Tessi says.

#4 Meeting the sales team – what is it that gets you going?

“Our goal is to find assignments that really interest our consultants. Luckily, our ace sales team is always on the case,” Tessi says.

*The meeting with Rakettitiede’s sales team and CEO is where an applicant can talk about their interests and what assignments would best match their skills and personality.*

The last step of the recruitment process is where an applicant can talk to Rakettitiede’s sales team about their professional interests: what kinds of environments and topics they excel at, what technologies they like to use the most, and what they would like to learn in the future.

These discussions also include Rakettitiede’s benevolent leader, CEO Juha Huttunen. The most important part of this step is getting to know the applicant so well that they can be given the assignments that best match their skills and personality.

“We want to find them the perfect gig that will truly engage them,” Tessi says.

What’s the point of making every applicant go through a multi-step recruitment process?

“It’s our guarantee to every current and future client and Rocket Scientist that we hire only the best senior-level experts. The fact of the matter is that the best typically want to work with the best. It’s our opportunity to boost our overall level to, well, another level entirely,” explains Marietta Johansson, Rakettitiede’s Sales Expert Extraordinaire.

Choosing a new job is a tricky business

Sometimes the opportunity for deepening the relationship just isn’t there yet, and the right time may come years down the line.

“When someone decides to hop on board the Rocket Ship varies by person. As a rule, we aren’t in a hurry to find more hands to handle our assignments, since we want to secure our future gigs on a person-first basis,” Tessi says.

When a senior developer wants to switch jobs, they’re usually looking for a place that will better suit their professional, social, and financial needs.

Karri and Tessi, as Rakettitiede’s top recruiters, what is your promise to any prospective applicants?

“We will talk to you openly and honestly, so that we can all arrive at the best possible conclusion,” Karri says.

“We promise to treat all applicants as human beings and individuals, and we’ll never try to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes,” Tessi concludes with a smile.

Rakettitiede’s recruitment process is (relatively) painless