Hiring process at Nordeus

How do I prepare for the interview?

After you get the invitation for the first interview, it can be exciting, but also stressful as you are thinking about the impression you want to make. 

What you can certainly expect from us is that you are going to have a friendly intro chat with one of our team members from Talent Acquisition and that most of it is going to be in English since that is our official language keeping in mind a large number of expats working at Nordeus.

Here is some practical advice on what you can do before the interview takes place:

    • 1. Read the job description once again and think about how your experience relates to what we are looking for in a particular role.

 

    • 2. Also, as you probably made sure you’ve sent the updated version of your CV when you applied, make sure you are familiar with its content, think about examples that demonstrate your previous experience and skills.

 

    • 3. Get familiar with the most recent updates in the industry and Nordeus, and make sure you check out our games– it would be valuable for you to see what we are working on.

 

    • 4. Think about the questions for the interviewer – Before every round in the process, we tell candidates who they are going to talk with. Think about the area of expertise of the interviewer and ask things that are relevant for you to know- e.g. technical interviews are a good place for you to ask all the tech-related questions, but also to find out what project the team is working on. It’s not about asking questions just for the sake of asking, but because your questions also reflect your motivation and passion for a certain position, the hiring team will welcome your better understanding of the role.

 

  • 5. Don’t overprepare – One of the most common traps is trying to give a recruiter an answer they want to hear, practicing perfect answers to some common questions. Even though it’s completely reasonable to do the mental exercise of imagining the interview situation before it actually happens – try not to lose your genuine self because learned answers are usually generic and leave a flat impression.

 

Fun fact: we receive around 500-700 applications each month.

Is the cover letter really that important?

We know that sometimes a candidate can think that a detailed CV takes care of everything when it comes to pursuing a new position. Although a good CV is one of the key ingredients of a successful application, let’s not forget what a quality cover letter can do for you in the application screening process.

 

Main purpose of a cover letter is to help us get to know a particular candidate better and give us the additional context for the content of a CV (e.g., a career change) and candidate’s motivation for a certain role.

 

Maybe some people think that we don’t even read cover letters. This is a huge misconception. We receive many applications for each role we open, and for a candidate this is a good opportunity to make his/ hers application stand out. What does that mean?

 

Make sure to tell us why you would like to join Nordeus, what you are passionate about, what additional value you would bring to our teams and everything else you consider relevant that is not mentioned in your resume.

 

We have to emphasize how important this is for junior candidates, where the application review round gets even more competitive (lots of candidates have a strong background, extracurricular activities, etc.) and we need additional cues to decide who is going to the next round.

How many selection rounds do you have and what do thay look like?

This really depends on the role. After a conversation with a recruiter and a meeting with a hiring manager, most of our candidates get a task that mimics the everyday work in that role to complete. What we try to do in our process is to give the candidate as much information as possible about the role, team and the company, so in case all goes well, they can make an informed decision if this is the right path for them.

 

We try to have the candidate meet everyone they would be working with in a formal interview and informal coffee meeting.

Does it help if I get recommended in comparison to standard applying?

If you know someone at Nordeus, we encourage you to reach out to them to get more info about the position you are interested in. We respect the opinion from our Nordeans, and believe that great people know great people, but what is more important is someone’s technical knowledge and how that person fits the team, and we pay special attention to that. That means we don’t make a difference between recommendations and standard applications.

Do I have to be a gamer to work in the gaming industry?

Being a gamer is more important for some roles than for others, for example, it is hard to imagine that people interested in Game Design or User Research are not gamers. From our perspective, it makes any position a lot easier because of the familiarity with gaming terminology, concepts, and the motivation to make awesome games.

If my process was unsuccessful, does that mean I should never re-apply?

Absolutely not! We encourage candidates to consider re-applying for a similar position in 6-12 months after the unsuccessful application. We believe that period of time is about optimal to make a difference in the next selection process- e.g., to develop a certain skill or get the additional experience, depending on the position.

 

  • I WANT TO WORK AT NORDEUS, BUT I DON’T SEE A POSITION FOR MYSELF. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

 

We suggest you explore the gaming industry by playing various mobile games and If you’d like to stay up to date with opportunities and events in the Serbian gaming community, you can subscribe to Nordeus Hub updates. Also, you can follow Nordeus on LinkedIn or Instagram so you can stay informed about our freshly opened positions. It is also a cool idea to check out our games on the App Store or Google Play, and figure out if you see yourself working on those or similar games.

 

Other than that, this year we are working on our Early Talent program that will bring a lot of interesting activities for the junior talent. You can follow our Early Talent blog here.

 

As for the advice- be a self-starter! If you are interested in something-dig deeper, make your own projects besides the ones related to the school curriculum, explore what really moves you as a future engineer/artist/designer. 🙂

For more advice click here to find out how you can get started in the gaming industry!

What are some non-technical characteristics you are looking for?

  1. 1. Self-starter – Has an urge to ’’make’’ things. Starts initiatives and explores the ways of working on his/her interests. An entrepreneurial spirit who lives his/her passion.
  2. 2. Gritty – Persistent in delivering results. Aware that it is okay to fail, as long as you learn from previous experiences and strive to make it happen even after x number of attempts.
  3. 3. Curious – Has a strong motivation to learn and try new ways. Uses versatile sources while learning. Hungry for knowledge.
  4. 4. Team player – we believe our people are individually great but amazing things happen when they join forces!

Can I apply to work at Nordeus if I don't live in Belgrade?

Yes, we are hiring people from all over the world. You can check here what living in Belgrade is like.

We also know that moving to another country is a stressful business, so expect full support in the process of relocation and settling in.

Check out open positions here and do not hesitate to reach out to us!

Working at Nordeus

What language do you speak at Nordeus?

We use English for all our internal communication. This means that all documents, emails, Slack messages and meetings are held in English. Should you want to learn Serbian, we offer both in-person and online classes for our expats and their families.

Can I choose my tech?

Yes you can. We have a wide selection of tech for you to pick from and are constantly adding to it based on feedback from our teams. We want you to have all the tools and latest technology you need to get your job done such as a latest mobile phone, laptop and many others.

What kind of L&D opportunities do you offer?

We see the value in investing in our people and that’s why we take L&D seriously. Not only do we have dedicated HR partners who act as consultants for all people-related topics, we offer unlimited opportunities in terms of professional growth. This includes paid travel to conferences and trainings worldwide, unlimited access to books and online courses. The bottom line: if it’s important to you, it’s important to us.

What kind of working hours do you have?

Nordeans are awesome people who are passionate about what they do and responsible to get the work done. As long as you get the job done and are able to be a team player, we empower you to work in a way that’s best for you. Coincidentally, that’s why we also offer unlimited vacations.

Do you really offer unlimited vacation?!

Yes we do! Vacations are not only crucial to our happiness and health, they also boost productivity. Because we operate on a culture of trust where the focus is on achieving great results, unlimited vacations work great for us. We’re sure you’ll love it too!

What kind of activities do you organize?

Having fun is a big part of who we are. We organise plenty of weekly activities, such as football, basketball, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and yoga. Apart from those, we like to mark big company milestones by throwing get-togethers for the whole team.

 

Did we mention our yearly offsite for the whole company?! Yes, you heard us right. From the early beginning of our tradition in Kopaonik to spending a week in Greece and Sardinia a few years ago, we take our team building seriously!

How are your compensation packages?

We use home-country compensation data to create competitive compensation packages for all our people.

Relocating to Belgrade

Moving to a new country, across the world, can definitely be intimidating, especially if you decide to embark on this journey with your whole family (pets included). Luckily, we are here to help!

Will you help me relocate to Belgrade?

Yes. Once your offer goes through, our team will take care of making your transitions as smooth as possible. We will deal with arranging your travel, temporary accommodation, shipping and legal paperwork for you and your family. Read more about moving to Belgrade here.

Will you help me move my pet(s)?

Yes, we will! Your pets are part of you family, too!

Do I need Serbian work permit and visa?

Most likely yes. This is a simple process that we will take care of entirely. Upon your arrival in Serbia, we will obtain the adequate paperwork for you and your family to live in Serbia. You can read more about the papers required here.

Me and my partner are not married, can they get a residence permit?

No worries, we’ve got you covered! We will assist you in the process of getting a residence permit for your partner, as well. Just a couple of additional documents will be needed and you’re good to go!

Will you help me find housing?

Yes. We’ll work with you and with local agencies to find the right place for you and your family. If you’re an expat, housing will be a part of your compensation package.

Which neighborhoods do you recommend living in?

The most popular neighborhoods are those of Vračar, Dorćol, Dedinje and New Belgrade. Vračar and Dorćol are closer to downtown Belgrade and may be better for you if you want to enjoy the city’s social scene. Dedinje may be more convenient if you have a young family due to most of the international schools being based there. Alternatively, New Belgrade is great because it flanks both the Sava and Danube rivers, which means plenty of green spaces, but it is also a short walk from the Nordeus office.

Do you sponsor trips back home for expats?

Yes. We offer our expats and their families two return trips to their home countries a year.

Will you help me with repatriation?

Whether you decide to retire in Belgrade or move on to your next adventure a few years down the road, we’ve got you covered. We’ll help you move you back home with all the same services that were used for your relocation.

Living in Belgrade

Moving to a new country comes with numerous benefits. Getting out of your comfort zone and embracing challenges broadens your horizons, gives you a chance to learn a new language in its cultural context and expand your social circle. In the end, immersing into a new culture will open many doors and you will have a deeper understanding of the world! Let’s take a look at what you can expect from living in Belgrade.