Benchmark Education Interview Questions
& Process

This was a really bad interview experience. First, the recruiter spent more time pitching the company than asking me anything or letting me ask questions. I had to email to get answers to basic things like the Glassdoor reviews and budget, which took a week and was after I'd already moved on. Then, I had two interviews with VPs that went well, with relevant questions. After that, there was a take-home task that lacked clear instructions, which I suspect led to an unfair evaluation. I then waited almost two weeks for any feedback, even after emailing, texting, and calling HR. I finally got a generic rejection email with no explanation. I asked for feedback but never heard back. Plus, the job is still posted weeks after it was filled. Very unprofessional.

I initially applied in September but didn’t hear back until November when the recruiter contacted me on Indeed. I confirmed my interest, and she then called me to discuss the role. I mentioned my earlier application, and she said it might have been overlooked due to system updates. We scheduled an in-person interview two days after our call. The office has a nice view. I met with the HR Director and VP for about an hour, and it seemed to go well. Afterward, I submitted my references. It took about three weeks to hear about the next steps. I received an offer, was given a week to consider it, and requested the offer details in writing, which I didn't get. I declined via email in under a week and never got a response. The entire process lasted roughly 4-5 weeks. Everyone I interacted with was nice and professional.

Applied online and got a call from HR about a week or two later to set up an interview for the following week. The office location was a bit tricky to find coming from the Metro North, with confusing street numbering. Arrived a minute or two late for my 10:00 am interview and waited another 10 minutes before HR came with paperwork. The first interviewer, scheduled for 10:00 am, finally arrived around 10:15 am. He started casually but became aggressive and critical after a few questions, focusing heavily on my tutoring experience as if it were 10 years of 7th-grade teaching. He finished on time despite starting late. My second interviewer, due at 10:30 am, arrived shortly after. She was pleasant, asked direct job-related questions, and was thorough. After she left, I finished my application before another HR person, new to the company, came in. I was told they'd confer and decide soon. The interview was a week before Thanksgiving, and it's now almost a month later with no word.

I had interviews with the publisher, both owners, and two other employees at the Executive Editor level. Each interview was one-on-one, except for the owners who interviewed me together. The interviews were pretty informal and conversational. I learned a lot about the company and its current projects. All the interviews happened on the same day. Afterward, I had several follow-up calls to discuss the offer with the Publisher and an owner.