My Experience with Celonis: A Cautionary Tale for Prospective Candidates

In the ever-evolving landscape of job hunting, encounters with potential employers can be enlightening, challenging, and sometimes, quite frustrating. Recently, I was approached by a recruiter for an intriguing position at Celonis, a leading player in the realm of process mining and execution management systems. The role in question was that of a Lead Value Engineer, a prospect that initially piqued my interest due to the promising nature of the opportunity and the engaging interactions I had with the interview panel.

As part of Celonis’s interview process, candidates are required to complete a comprehensive take-home case study. This involves thorough training on their proprietary process mining tool through Celonis Academy, culminating in a simulated client meeting presentation. Candidates are advised to allocate 12-20 hours to complete this assignment. Driven by my enthusiasm for the role and the company’s culture, I devoted around 20-30 hours to mastering their PQL language and navigating their tools, from building insightful dashboards to leveraging their process intelligence.

During my interview earlier this year, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with the team expressing admiration for my in-depth preparation and upskilling efforts. However, following these interactions, I experienced a significant lapse in communication, extending over two months, only to learn that the position was no longer being filled.

Shortly thereafter, another recruiter contacted me about a Lead Solutions Consultant role. Despite my initial hesitation, I decided to give Celonis another chance. Unfortunately, history repeated itself with prolonged silence, followed by the news that the position was also off the table.

This experience has strongly reinforced my decision to refrain from engaging in extensive take-home assignments in future job applications. The expectation for candidates to deliver work with billable quality—punctual, exceptional, and communicative—was not reciprocated by the company’s recruitment team, raising concerns about their respect for candidates’ time and efforts.

For those considering opportunities with Celonis, I advise proceeding with caution. Ensure you weigh the time investment and potential outcomes before committing to their demanding recruitment tasks. This experience has been a valuable lesson in the importance of setting boundaries and recognizing when an opportunity may not align with one’s professional values.