Overall the application process was mediocre, I have seen better and worse. First of all there is this guy who looks after your overall interview process. Good idea, however some bean counter decided to outsource this function to India (add the email address of your guy to your LinkedIN profile or look him up!). Quality of this service is below average but acceptable (interesting fact are their WASP names!).
The second, longer interview is with the hiring manager who is not permanent either (contracted out, but within EEA/UK). slighty more insight and professional, however still not the corporate experience you are looking for in being hired for a permanent role. ebay, T-Mobile, BP or Morgan Stanley are a lot better. Having said that these companies are huge and have obviously more options than tiny Skype (just keep in mind when talking about being efficient in SW engineering that there is a huge supply chain of contracts attached to make things happen).
The one-to-one with Skype itself was the next step (last step for me) - no names, but this person was clearly aloof while having the meeting. He even had a cigarette while we were talking which is absolutely not OK (interview was via Skype and the voice quality is that good you can hear those things).
Verdict:
Similar experience as before: A very interesting product doesn't require a very interesting recruitment process or business etiquette, in the end Skype is a tiny company which still has to learn a lot.
I am glad I am know in a fortune 100 company rather than skype. (A lot) more pay, a lot better bonus and a lot more you can learn from great people (this doesn't mean this would not be the case at Skype).
1) screening call (they picked up my monster profile)
2) short listed (another quick call)
3) (external/contract) hiring manager call with personality questions and behavior analysis (M.R.)
4) 1:1 phone call with SKYPE manager (T.)
5) eMail with negative feedback