Brooklyn Navy Yard Interview Questions
& Process

I got this internship through SYEP and was interviewed by the HR team. I met with three team members, and we talked about why I was interested in an HR internship. After that, I asked if I could shadow someone on the Employee Relations team.

I had a group interview where they matched people with companies. Then, the company I was matched with (at Brooklyn Navy Yard) reached out for a one-on-one interview.

The interview process was pretty disheartening and frustrating. I thought everything went great until I was met with silence, even after reaching out. I was contacted eventually, notified that someone else was given an offer and started the position already. Please do better in terms of recruitment because hours and weeks were invested in the interviews - time that could have definitely gone to a company that deserves it. The final person, whom I believe was the Manager, came off in a way that seemed like my answers were not good enough even when asked about my previous processes and how I handle my responsibilities.

The HR Assistant used a script, making the interview feel a bit unnatural. They couldn't answer basic questions about the role, which was a bit concerning. The HR Assistant did mention they needed a salary range upfront to save time, which I get since I also hire people. I tried explaining that my salary expectations depend on things like responsibilities and benefits, but they seemed to have trouble understanding this and just wanted a number. My number was higher than their offer, so it was clear it wouldn't work out based on salary, even though I tried to say I was open to negotiation based on the whole package. Honestly, I don't think they grasped what I was trying to say. My suggestion to the HR Department is to have a more experienced person do the initial phone screening, especially for senior roles, so they can better evaluate candidates and answer questions. Not doing this can lead to losing out on good candidates who could be valuable to the company. I saw similar feedback in Glassdoor reviews before applying, so it's worth paying attention to. The Navy Yard itself is a great development, but the initial interview process really needs improvement.