Blank Street Interview Questions
& Process

I interviewed for a quality assurance role in January 2026. The interview process was extensive - a 4-hour day including meetings with multiple team members (including an international team member who was in town for interviews), store observation, and case study exercises. The first interviewer openly admitted they were getting their interview questions from ChatGPT, which felt unprepared and unprofessional. Despite preparing a comprehensive mystery shopper program framework as requested, the final interviewer's main takeaway was that I "inspired him to get an iPad." I received same-day positive feedback stating I was "well prepared" and had a valuable "American perspective." I was told the next step would be to meet with senior leadership. Despite the time invested by both sides and a professional follow-up email after a week, I received no response for over 2 months. No rejection, no update, no acknowledgment of my follow-up communication. In retrospect, it appears they wanted someone with QA and coffee retail experience to audit their store operations and provide strategic insights under the guise of seeking an "American perspective" - essentially using candidates for free consulting. After this experience, I will never patronize this brand again. Other candidates should be aware that this company may not follow through on stated timelines or provide closure after interviews.

I had a small group interview that lasted about an hour with the hiring manager and the shift leader. It was a friendly and relaxed vibe. We also did a short role-play to see how I'd handle customer interactions. I heard back within a couple of days. This interview made me really want to work there. Since I haven't worked in a coffee shop before, it seems like they cared more about my customer service skills and personality than actual barista experience!

Applied online before Christmas. Got an email from a general Blank Street address with a link to a portal. Had 30 minutes to download assets and complete a design task. The email also said I had 7 days to complete it, so it was unclear how much time I was supposed to dedicate. Heard nothing for 5 weeks. Spoke to someone on the team who said they'd get back to me, but still nothing. Saw the role advertised again on LinkedIn, so I assume I didn't get it. It's inconsiderate that people spent time on a task and didn't get a simple email response. Very disappointing for such a big company.

This was one of the worst interview processes ever. The take-home case assignment felt like asking for free work for future drink launches and had a misleading prompt and inaccurate evaluation criteria. The hiring manager lacked knowledge of learning principles and best practices, coming from a recruiting background instead of L&D, and was unqualified for their role. I have more L&D experience than them. The process felt inequitable, and my feedback was met with a curt, rude response. I'd avoid this company due to the inequitable hiring, unqualified managers, and concerning financials and unfulfilled tech promises.