The hiring process is structured into 5 steps: Recruiter first chat, Hiring manager chat, Colleague chat, Technical task (a short take-home project to assess one’s skillset), and Virtual onsite (meet several members of the team virtually). Duolingo connects you to a candidate portal where you can see the entire process and track your progress, which is a thoughtful touch. The recruiter first chat is meant to be a friendly introductory call to better understand your background and interests, and they encourage you to bring your own questions. Duolingo also uses BrightHire to record and transcribe interviews for fairness and consistency (you can opt out, and recordings are deleted after 90 days). Unfortunately, while the recruiter was polite, professional, and friendly, my personal experience was neither organized nor communicative. My initial interview was canceled via email five minutes after it had already started (the recruiter never showed). I was offered alternative times for the next day, but I didn’t hear back for another six days. That delay, combined with the last-minute cancellation, made the process stressful and left a negative impression. Emergencies do happen, and I understand that, but they need to be handled appropriately — timely communication and follow-through are essential in a professional hiring process.