Recently, I interviewed for a Marketing Operations position at a company in the legal space. I wanted to share my experience and thoughts on how the process could be improved.
The Interview Process
The process began with a phone screen with the recruiter to gauge if my experience aligned with the job description. Next, I had a call with the hiring manager, where I walked her through my resume and tackled two performance-based questions. I vividly remember one question about a new process I introduced and implemented in my current role.
A take-home project followed, leading into a panel interview with four company members from different departments. This was meant to simulate a "day in the life" of the role, but it missed the mark. Post-interview, I had one-on-one sessions with each panel member.
The redundancy in the process was significant. About 80% of the questions were repetitive, which could have been streamlined to save time for everyone involved.
My Takeaways
- Focused Questions: The interview could be more effective by asking specific, case-based questions that allow candidates to showcase their unique problem-solving skills.
- Panel Efficiency: If one-on-one sessions are necessary, they could be scheduled separately to reduce redundancy and make better use of time during the group panel.
- Post-Interview Feedback: The feedback I received was brief and came after the panel informed me I wasn’t moving forward—a demoralizing moment, especially after the effort put into the project.
- Preparation is Key: I learned the hard way that relaxing too much before a big panel isn’t wise. It's crucial to prepare thoroughly and have solid examples of past work ready to discuss in detail.
- Adapt Your Responses: It’s important to adjust the complexity of your answers based on your audience, especially when they might not be familiar with your specific field.
- The Importance of Feedback: Receiving only about 10 seconds of feedback after multiple interviews and a project was disappointing. This needs to change to help candidates improve.
Recommendations for Improvement
To enhance the interview process:
- Streamline the Questions: Reduce redundancy by coordinating the panel better, ensuring that each member asks unique questions relevant to their department.
- Detailed Feedback: Provide comprehensive feedback to candidates. This not only helps them improve but also leaves a positive impression of the company.
- Efficient Use of Time: Reorganize the structure of the panel and one-on-ones to respect everyone’s time.
By sharing these insights and suggestions, I hope to help others prepare better for their interviews and encourage companies to refine their hiring processes for efficiency and effectiveness.
