How Pleo hires: From your application to your first day
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When you apply for a role at Pleo, we're all rooting for you. We've all got our fingers crossed that you'll be the one. The next down-to-earth brilliant mind to join us on our mission to be the go-to spending solution for forward-thinking teams.
But, we want to get it right. This is a big decision for both of us. If you join us, we’ll spend a lot of time together working on some pretty cool things. We need to show you exactly how that looks, what you'll work on and who with. In return, you need to show us you can and want to do it; and that you'll be genuine, warm and willing to learn with us along the way.
This is our chance to really get to know each other, leave no questions unanswered, and get excited about what the future could hold for us.
Who we hire
Before we dig into how we hire, we want you to know that we're not 100% sure what the perfect hire for each role is. No, really . We believe in people, not paper.
We've got a pretty good idea of what we'd like to achieve and, we know what the must-haves are, and they should be clear on the job advert. But, if you don't tick all the boxes as we've listed them, that doesn't mean you shouldn't apply. We're interested in finding the best person to get the job done, and that person might have experience we hadn't thought of yet.
There are a lot of us now. Hailing from over 100 different places, living and working in 44 countries. Each with our own preferences, commitments and unique quirks. What ties us together is a shared connection to our values. After all, a company’s values and mission is what grounds its people, and is the glue that holds everyone together.
We champion the customer
We’re curious about and bring the customer perspective into every conversation. We’re reliable, approachable and focused on having a meaningful impact, inspiring our community to go further.
We make it happen.
We’re doers. There’s no fear of failure here; we see it as an opportunity to learn. We turn ambition into accomplishment through open dialogue, constructive feedback and transparency. We trust each other to make bold decisions and stand by them together.
We succeed as a team.
Our success is a collective effort. Our strength lies in our diversity, dedication and the energy we share. When all’s said and done, we support each other. And yes, we have fun too. After all, we’re only human.
We build to scale
Our focus is creating lasting solutions that address today’s challenges and anticipate tomorrow’s needs. We put our focus where it matters most. Then, we design new, bold, distinctive solutions and deliver them with care.
How we hire
You've spotted a job on our careers site that looked pretty cool, and you’re gearing up to apply. Here's the road ahead.
Application
We'll be frank here, we get a lot of applications. And while that's great news for us, it also means we often have to let a lot of talented people down. That's why, while we don't require a cover letter, we give you the chance to let us know why Pleo, why this role and why you. Being human is one of our values, so we appreciate candidates who give their applications a personal touch.
Top tip!
No need for an essay, a few sentences is fine here. We're looking for clear communication, solid reasoning for joining Pleo and one or two examples explaining why you're a good fit for the role. This shows us you've thought about it, read the job description and genuinely want to join our mission.
When will I hear back?
You'll always hear back from our team, no matter the result. Sometimes our inboxes get pretty packed, especially when we're juggling a few roles at a time, so it can take up to two weeks to give you an answer. You're welcome to give us a nudge if you've not heard anything by then.
Initial call with talent partner
Time to get to know you and your goals and let you know about us and ours. We want to find out more about you as a person, what your motivations are and give you more information on the role. You can use this time to find out if we're *actually* what you're looking for and get to know Pleo beyond the advert. Bring all the questions you have!
Top Tip!
We love it when candidates have reflected on what's important to them in a role. It helps us understand if we can offer you what you need. Prepare for this interview by going through past positions or experiences and identifying what you like, what you want more of and why you're looking to make a change. Bonus points for showing you've done in-depth research on Pleo too.
When will I hear back?
From this stage onwards, everyone receives tailored feedback. As we conduct these calls on an ongoing basis, timing can differ. Your Talent Partner will update you on what’s next during the call. They'll also be your point of contact for any follow-up questions about practicalities like salary, location and remote-working.
Hiring manager check-in
Meeting the person who'll be your boss is a must. Sometimes availability means this step gets moved around, but you'll always get face time with the hiring manager for the role before the end of the process. During this call, you'll get down to the nitty-gritty. That includes what you'll be doing and whether you have the hard skills needed for the role. The hiring manager will also look at your overall experience and see how it could add to the team we already have. You'll be able to find out more about what the day-to-day looks like and how the team works.
Top Tip!
We're not prescriptive on the experience required, which means we need you to be ready to tell us how yours matches our goals. Swot up on you and tell us about your skills, mindset, ambition and attitude.
When will I hear back?
Following this call, your Talent Partner will collect feedback as soon as possible and keep you in the loop with the next steps. Sometimes busy diaries mean this can take a couple of days but rest assured your Talent Partner is on the case!
The Pleo Challenge
This is where we tap into how you think and solve problems. The task is usually deliberately open-ended and based on something you'll actually do in the role, it’s designed to give you a taste of what's to come. You might make a mock sales call, create a draft storyboard or sketch out plans for a new Pleo feature. Each challenge gets reviewed by three or four people who sit close to the role; they'll each fill out a detailed scorecard so we can make a fair decision on each entry. There are no right or wrong answers here; we're looking for something that's 100% you.
Top Tip!
We don't set a time limit on the challenge, so it's up to you how much time and energy you put into it. Show us the "why" behind your answers and challenge us if you need to; we like to see your reasoning and hear how you approach your work.
When will I hear back?
Your Talent Partner will collect the feedback and keep you up to date with the following steps, so reach out to them if you'd like an update on the status of your challenge. We ask our employees to give detailed feedback on the challenge, which can take a few days to collect.
Meet the team
Time to get a real feel for Pleo. Expect to share a (virtual) meeting room with two to three people you'll work with regularly if you get the job. These might be on the team you want to join or from another Pleo department; either way, they'll have a keen interest in finding the right person for the role.
At the end of this stage, you should have a great sense of whether Pleo is a company you'd like to join. What's great about working here? What projects make people proud? What are we working to improve?
Top tip!
You've done a lot of the leg work already. If you're here, your challenge has already impressed the team. Think about the questions you want to ask, and don't be afraid to go deep and show you've really thought about what you'd like to know. We're constantly changing, growing and learning as part of work here – we want to see that you're just as eager to be a part of it.
When will I hear back?
There are a lot of moving parts by now and we aim to keep the process as fair as possible. That means timing can be hard to predict. You and your Talent Partner will be in close contact at this stage; they’ll make sure you’re up to date on the latest developments.
Final Interview
Whew! What a ride. Only a handful of people get to this stage, congratulations!
This is a session with someone in leadership where you see the big picture for Pleo and chat about how your role will figure into that. Find out more about the big bets, strategic goals and overall mission here. We've said it before; our values are crucial to our success. This is the final check to see that you embody our values and will contribute positively to our culture.
Top Tip!
Be yourself. That's really the only tip we can give you here. Think about your values and how they match ours. What matters to you? What gets you up in the morning? Who are you outside of work? Our team members are easy to talk to, all the way to the top. They just want to see the real you.
When will I hear back?
If everyone's on board at this stage, you could receive an offer (fingers crossed for you). If that's the case, you're just one final "yes" away from joining the team! Then you’ll experience our employee onboarding programme, Bricks , where we set every new Pleo employee off to the best start possible when they join us.