How to Get Hired in Silicon Valley - Insider Tips from Zendesk

While you may not initially think customer service and a feeling of “zen” go hand in hand, three friends in Copenhagen did. They built Zendesk, a cloud-based customer support platform designed to give companies easier and more productive interactions with their customers.

Zendesk, headquartered in San Francisco, now has more than 1,500 employees in 12 offices around the world. Lead Technical Recruiter Elliot Hayes shares some insights on their hiring process.

How difficult is it for you to attract top tech talent?

Zendesk is growing rapidly and our demand for tech talent is increasing daily. Unfortunately, this rings true with many of our neighbors. We rely on our stellar work environment, honest and ethical management team, and inclusive colleagues to captivate and secure the best candidates. We were recently certified a great place to work, with 95% of employees deeming themselves “proud to tell others I work here.”

Is it harder in San Francisco than other areas?

The great thing about having our company headquartered in San Francisco is that we are in the center of Silicon Valley. Countless people come here to build the company of their dreams, which means that we are exposed to an outstanding pool of qualified candidates with fantastic skillsets. The challenging part is, even though there is a great number of candidates, the competition is fierce!

What’s your interview process like?

Zendesk candidates are always kept “in the know” throughout the interview process. Each candidate will have an initial recruiter phone screen and, based on that conversation, move forward to meet their prospective teammates. Once a candidate comes onsite they are given a tour of the Zendesk office and escorted to their interview space. Lunch is provided if an interview is in the early afternoon, and we encourage taking as many snacks and beverages needed to get through the many conversations. There is no dress code for our interviews and we make it as relaxed as possible, so the candidate can truly experience our workplace culture and gauge if we are the right fit!

What specific skills do candidates need to have/know in order to work at Zendesk?

We like to hire people who bring a positive, customer service mindset to their day to day - much like our customer service focused product. We value collaboration and learning from each other, within teams and across teams. If you are excited to brainstorm and think outside the box, you will succeed here. You will also thrive if you are community minded. Zendesk offers plenty of volunteer opportunities and encourages employee involvement.

What areas of the company are growing fastest right now?

We are hiring across the board! As a software company, talented engineers are always in high demand. We are also looking for Account Executives to continue to grow our customer base, as well as plenty of Support and Customer Success roles to make sure our customers remain satisfied with Zendesk. Check out our careers page.

How do you ensure the right cultural fit?

Our interview process is based both on technical skills and cultural fit. As much as we want to evaluate the candidate, we also want each candidate to evaluate us. Can they see themselves seated in our event space during a Town Hall, with a burrito and chips/salsa? Do they enjoy the flexibility of working from a standing desk, comfortable couches, conference rooms, or home? Do they maintain a work hard, play hard mentality? Do they value company perks? Can they jump right into a role, assuming prescribed responsibilities but also bring with them a new perspective and ideas to make Zendesk better? If we can say for certain that a candidate checks all those boxes (and more!), we know they are a right fit for Zendesk.

Any pet peeves - tips on what NOT to do on a resume?

We are eager to know all of your past accomplishments, but believe it can be presented on one page. Straightforward facts and consolidated bullet points on a resume are easiest to read and sure to capture a recruiter’s attention. Also, don’t be afraid to get creative! Times New Roman is wonderful, but we appreciate different fonts, formats and styles to showcase your greatness.

What are some surefire ways to nail your resume/cover letter?

We highly recommend that you do your research by watching our creative videos and reading about us in the news. Brownie points for downloading a free trial of our product to really know what we’re all about! We also truly enjoy reading cover letters, so take the time to articulate why you think Zendesk is the place for you. Check us out on LinkedIn and see if you have any connections here - it always helps to come as a referral.

Do you use social media to research candidates?

We love social media and the various technologies that allow us to research prospective employees.

How do you spot an innovative thinker? Are there specific questions you ask?

We look for candidates who built something on their own. Even if it’s as simple as a personal app, it shows they are innovating, interested and eager to develop great products. Innovative thinkers are usually genuinely curious and come prepared with questions to ask our team.

What’s the best/most creative way anyone has ever applied for a job?

We had a candidate who started off their cover letter by saying “Hi, I’ll be the new Developer you’re going to hire!” Ha! They went into details about how their background was a good fit for the role and articulated why it would be a dream to work here. They are coming up on 5 years with the company.