Catbird Interview Questions
& Process

I applied online for an assistant manager position at their new Atlanta location. About two hours after applying, I received an interview invitation. I responded with my availability. Two days after they offered me the interview, the same hiring manager informed me that they had hired someone else whose schedule was a better fit. I found this incredibly unprofessional, especially since it goes against their stated company values. It made me suspect the first person they hired quit, and they're now rushing to find a replacement. Regardless, they should have been upfront about their need for immediate availability in the job posting.

I went through a few interview rounds only to be told at the end that I would only be offered the job if I agreed to full-time availability, even though it was a part-time role. I made sure to state my limited part-time availability in my application, cover letter, and throughout the interview process. It seemed like the first two interviewers didn't pass on any information about me to the next person, and they just moved me to the next round even though my availability wasn't suitable for the position. I drove across town for an in-person interview, which felt like a waste of time for both of us due to the lack of communication between the interviewing managers.

The entire interview process went on for about six weeks. They were really flexible and set up meetings outside of regular hours to fit my schedule. While the talks and overall experience were pretty straightforward, the number of meetings suggested they weren't totally sure about the role requirements. I also had to do a work sample to show my skills. After a lot of back and forth, they decided not to hire anyone for the position at that time, even though it had been posted and removed three times before.

The interview process was pretty good, honestly. It was direct, and I got to talk to several people and ask my own questions. The only issue came after the interview. I was offered a lower pay rate than I was initially quoted. When I tried to negotiate, they said there must have been a misunderstanding and they couldn't adjust the offer. Usually, I'd be okay with that, but I knew others who were interviewing at the same time, and they all experienced the same thing: being told a higher rate than what was offered. It happened too many times to just be a simple mistake. It did shake my confidence in them a bit, which is a bummer because the workplace seemed like a good environment with nice people.