ClimateWorks Foundation Interview Questions
& Process

The first interview was with a junior person who I would have been managing. It was a mistake to have that person be the first screener because they didn't have good answers to my questions, even though I like the idea of being interviewed by future direct reports. The second interview was with my future boss, the hiring manager. She started by asking me questions instead of her own. I liked that it was conversational and informal, but I wish she had provided more background and guided the conversation because I actually didn't know what the job was about.

I submitted an online application, uploaded my resume, and typed my cover letter into the website form. Then, I had a 30-minute phone screen with two recruiters, one of whom was my main contact. They asked about my general skills and specifics of the job. Next, I had a 1-hour video interview with the hiring manager, which was more conversational but covered similar topics, focusing on data work approaches. After that, I received a 1.5-hour "thought exercise" to complete within 90 minutes via email. This involved researching organizations, inputting info into a spreadsheet, and checking a data set for errors. Finally, I had a 1-hour panel interview with four staff members. We first discussed my approach to the thought exercise, then they asked questions from their perspectives on the role. Communication with the recruiter was clear and professional. There was a two-week delay after the final interview due to the holidays, but prior to that, the process moved very quickly, taking just over two weeks from application to final interview. References were not requested, and questions focused on competencies. Overall, it was a positive, albeit intense, experience.

I went through 3 interview rounds, starting with HR, then a panel of staff not on the team, and finally the team members and hiring manager. Before the last interview, I had a 3-hour exercise that was pretty easy and directly related to the job duties. Everything was done remotely. The first two interviews were great, with friendly and engaged staff. However, the last interview staff seemed distracted, which wasn't a good look. What really stung was being ghosted after investing so much time. It's been over 2 months since the final interview and I still haven't heard anything, even after following up with HR multiple times. It takes minimal effort to send an email saying I didn't get the job, especially after making candidates go through multiple rounds and a long exercise.

The first interview with HR didn't happen as scheduled, so I followed up. They rescheduled for the next day, but the same thing happened again. Eventually, the head of HR apologized and explained they had some issues. The HR interview and the subsequent meeting with two team managers were very conversational and low-stress. They focused on discussing the company and gathering information about my skills in a welcoming atmosphere. While the people I met were pleasant and knowledgeable, the two no-shows from HR were concerning.