I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at Semrush in Feb 2026
Interview
I recently had an interview experience with SEMrush that left me concerned about professionalism and potential bias in their recruiting process.
A recruiter reached out on LinkedIn to schedule a call regarding a sales opportunity. We confirmed a time, and after one reschedule (which I accommodated), the recruiter cancelled the meeting just 26 minutes before our scheduled conversation. The reason given was that the role required prior experience selling into the LATAM market — something that apparently had not been fully reviewed before outreach.
What concerns me most is that I was only evaluated for the LATAM-focused role, despite the company publicly hiring across multiple regions at the time. I have experience selling into several other markets that align with their open roles. It raises the question of why I was only considered for LATAM in the first place.
Given my Hispanic last name, I can’t help but question whether assumptions were made about my background or market experience. While I cannot definitively say that bias occurred, the optics and the limited scope in which I was considered made the experience feel dismissive and potentially discriminatory.
Additionally, cancelling an already rescheduled interview less than half an hour before the call demonstrated a lack of respect for a candidate’s time.
Recruiting is often the first impression candidates have of a company. Unfortunately, this experience reflected poor communication, insufficient vetting prior to outreach, and a process that did not feel equitable.
I hope SEMrush reviews its recruitment practices to ensure candidates are evaluated holistically and without assumptions.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
They complimented me for my experience and multiple awards on LinkedIn
Dear Sender,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not fully meet your expectations. Please note that all applications are carefully reviewed based on the information provided and the specific requirements of each role at the time.
We also sincerely apologize for the late cancellation. We understand how important clear and timely communication is, and we’re continuously working to improve our processes to provide a better experience for candidates.
We truly appreciate your feedback and wish you all the best in your career journey.
Yours, the Semrush Team
I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at Semrush in Jan 2026
Interview
First, an HR interview, explanation about the company and some sanity check questions. Then, tech interview (it was fun!!!). Algorithmic task, task about go, DBs, k8s. No hard questions for sake of hard questions, something that actually happens in the work. Liked it, the interviewers were great, funny and supportive.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How do I handle DB degradation (postgres to be precise)
Overall, this was one of the most balanced interview processes I’ve experienced. Even though the role I was being considered for changed during the interview process due to internal adjustments, the process itself remained stable. There were no additional interview rounds introduced, and the structure did not become more complex. The discussions stayed focused and relevant throughout. For me, it also highlighted how important it is to feel comfortable communicating with your future colleagues.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
One area I do remember clearly was risk management. I was asked about my approach to risk management as a project manager and how I identified, assessed, and mitigated risks in previous roles and companies.
Dear Sender,
Thank you for your positive feedback about our interview process. We’re glad to hear it went smoothly, and we’re excited to welcome you to the team!
Yours, the Semrush Team
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