Cambridge Educational Services Interview Questions
& Process

This was one of the stranger interviews I've done. I had a journalism degree and a couple of years of experience teaching at the college level, so the job description and company looked interesting when I applied online. A few days later, I got an email asking me for the most supplementary material I've ever had to submit for a job application. As other reviewers have mentioned, they wanted unofficial college transcripts, a specifically academic writing sample (the other jobs I'd applied to wanted journalism clips or marketing copy), and my old SAT scores from back when I was in high school. I was already a few years out of school by this point, but fortunately it was still recent enough at this point that I could still log into my university accounts and pull up unofficial transcripts, the SAT scores I'd used to apply, and an old paper from a journalism ethics class. It definitely signaled that they wanted young, inexperienced applicants; if I had graduated form college 20+ years ago, I probably would have had to give up at this point. Anyway, I submitted the materials, and then heard nothing. Then, three months later, I get a email from another Cambridge employee, offering me an interview. I was still looking at this point, so I went to the interview. I started with an interview with a senior executive, who was friendly and easy to talk to; this was the one part of the process that felt like a normal interview. Then another employee took me to a desk and gave me first a proofreading test and then a timed essay prompt much like you'd see on the writing section of the SAT. Felt like a throwback to school, but I figured it was because their main product is test-prep materials. After that, I never heard from them again.

The interview process was about 2 hours long. I arrived at their office in Des Plaines, IL, and was welcomed by the staff. They had me wait in the dining area for a bit and offered me bottled water. It was quiet in the office, and my interview was in the morning. First, there was a 15-minute proofreading test where I was given a pencil and a mock client letter with errors, some obvious and some subtle like wrong addresses. I spent the whole time on it. Next was a 45-minute essay on a laptop, with no grammar or spelling checks. The prompt was about public school responsibilities, requiring info from readings and personal knowledge with citations. I used the time to outline, write, and proofread. Finally, I had a 1:1 interview where standard questions about my interest in Cambridge Educational and my experience were asked. It was conversational, and the interviewer seemed interested. I asked how they handle negative reviews, and they said they've improved. I haven't been offered a job yet, so I can't confirm that. The employees were friendly and open about their experiences.

I went through two interviews for this position. The first interview involved submitting a lot of documentation, like my grades, test scores, and writing samples. After that, I had an on-site editing and writing test. The first interview was with the editorial director and some executives, where they asked me standard questions about my work history, personality, and what I expected from the company, all from a prepared list. This interview went well. However, the second interview with the CEO was a terrible experience. He kept me waiting for five minutes while he finished a phone call, and then he spent another five minutes not preparing for my interview, even though he had my detailed application. While I was talking, he was typing and reading his computer, interrupted me a few times, and was condescending about my answers. Most of the interview consisted of him asking, "Well, what do you want to know?" He also seemed to indicate that the full-time position might be one of two part-time positions offered to three candidates. This was easily the worst interview I've ever had, and it felt unwelcoming and off-putting.

I encountered a recruiter at a career fair. Even though I hadn't formally applied, they extended an interview invitation after our chat. The following week, I went in for a behavioral interview and some assessments. They had me take a grammar test and write an essay. The interview itself was quite simple and direct. The interviewer was very open about the job's specifics and seemed positive about my progressing. I ultimately decided not to continue because I didn't feel it was the right fit.