Inside our values-driven hiring process

If you’re here, you are probably wondering what it takes to join Wix. We sat down with Vaida Paulauskienė, Wix’s Head of HR in Vilnius (Lithuania), to uncover the secrets behind Wix’s hiring process. Discover why Wix sets such high standards for its candidates and the philosophy that drives our unique approach to building a top-tier team.

On average, how many interviews does one candidate go through in their Wix hiring process?

A candidate usually has 4-5 interviews, while the market average is 2-3. Only by completing the steps of the interview can we understand whether we’re suitable for each other: these interviews are not just about Wix’s interest - they’re about the candidate’s as well. During Wix job interviews, technical tasks and interviews with the team are performed first; during the HR screening that follows, we check whether the person applying meets the Wix value base. Even if the candidate is a very strong professional, if they don’t match our values (for example, they work individually and not as a team member) we’ll probably say no.

What are the Wix values in the candidate selection process?

Wix has an ambitious vision, so the way we realize our aspirations is important to us - our values, culture. These guide us every step of the way. We have a "Wix way of hiring", which is revealed during selection by paying close attention to the Wix values.

What exactly are those values?

Let me break them down for you…

#1 We care about our people

Wix is all about people. Our products are of high quality and constantly improving, but it is about the people: about their competence and the dynamics of the teams they work in. It all starts with the selection of these talents.

#2 We work for our users’ success

Wix's vision is to create a platform where any business, community or individual can realize their dreams online. Wix users are always our priority, and we’re here to help them build their dreams, grow and become successful.

#3 We build the best products in the world

It's not just a catchy slogan - it's a mindset we look for in candidates. It’s especially beneficial when the applicant brings their work experience to the interview: a project under development, a solution to a problem they’ve achieved - real-life examples that we can discuss and talk about. This way, we can immediately see how the candidate thinks and whether it’s in line with the Wix product philosophy.

#4 You own what you do

People working in Wix teams are clearly characterized by a strong sense of responsibility: they’re responsible for their project, take on tasks and are proactive in solving problems. This is a big part of our success. Even in the selection, we try to check the sense of responsibility as much as possible: we observe whether the candidate will complete the assigned task on time, how much they'll delve into it, how many questions they’ll raise, whether they’ll be open to discussion, etc.

#5 Be a pro

When employing a candidate, we first look at professionalism, the desire to improve and grow - but not at the number of diplomas in their hand or their positions at other companies. We believe in skills over titles. We value passion for a specific area the most.

#6 We're transparent

Wix's transparency is revealed not only in everyday life, but also during candidate selection. From the very beginning, we share with the applicant how many interview steps there will be, and we’re very open about that journey. You’re always welcome to ask questions and join the community. If candidates want to know more, they’re invited to participate in public meetups where we share what we do. From programmers to HR, our goal is to build community.

#7 We allow failures

Even in the world of startups, you can't expect success on your first attempt. We realize this when working with the Wix product - we learn from mistakes. If you don't succeed, it doesn't mean that it's the end; it’s where the opportunity to learn something new comes in. This is the same with our hiring process: when a candidate makes a mistake, we check how they deal with it. This also means that if you didn't get hired at Wix right away, definitely try again - we have plenty of examples of employees who were hired on their second, third or even fourth attempt to join Wix.

#8 Winning

If you've ever played professional sports, you know that you can come to the tournament just to participate, or come to win. Maybe you'll lose, maybe there will be mistakes - but you come with one attitude: to win. Wix is also coming into this market to win, aiming to take over at least 50% of the user market. That's why it's so important to build a team that wants to win, not just participate or do an OK job. We’re looking for passionate people who can work as team players.

#9 We measure everything

We test all candidates, no exceptions. While conversation and interviews are important, we believe that the task plays a crucial double role: they help Wix understand the candidate’s competence, and help the candidates understand to what extent Wix meets their expectations.

#10 Be direct

We practice openness both in our daily work and in the applicant selection process. Even after rejecting a candidate, we try to share feedback openly and clearly.

#11 Fun

This isn’t a “filler” value - it’s one of our deepest ones. We truly believe that fun triggers good business. Each person's uniqueness inspires everybody around them, and when people are inspired, they bring up awesome ideas - and awesome ideas are good for business :)

#12 Don't be an asshole

Assholes are the exact opposite of what we stand for. They work for themselves, not for the team; they step on others to get ahead; and they tend to be aggressive. In other words, they foster a toxic work environment, which is the last thing a company needs - so no matter how talented they are, they have no place at Wix.