Countrywide plc Interview Questions
& Process

This was a horrific experience interviewing here. The interviewers were incredibly rude and disrespectful, and they twisted my words to make me seem unintelligent. They had a copy of my CV and throughout the interview, they would bring up achievements or previous experiences and laugh at these to mock me.

So, first there was this quick phone chat where they asked about why I wanted to work there, my salary ideas, and if I was flexible with my schedule. Then, the actual interview was at their National Operations Center in Castle Donnington. Getting there was a bit of a trek, and the bus was late, which was annoying, so I had to let the interviewer know. She was really cool about it though. The reception was fast, got my visitor badge, and headed upstairs. Saw a big room with like 90 people on the phones. I was taken to a kinda private spot at a circular desk. Because I was 10 mins late and there were other people waiting, we just started. We chatted a bit, and then she hit me with the usual question. Overall, it was a decent experience, lots to learn, and the interviewer was great. They also mentioned needing a background check and work history info if I got the job because they handle sensitive stuff.

I met with an Associate Director in person. The whole interview was filled with generic questions about my resume, not a real conversation to learn about me. The interviewer seemed very young, maybe 20, and was arrogant and insecure because of their appearance and how they acted. I found their attitude offensive because going through my CV felt like they doubted my experience and were trying to diminish my accomplishments. The questions were basic and followed a checklist. They were judgmental and condescending. I didn't feel like I represented myself well; it felt more like being judged and cross-examined by someone who thought they were way smarter, even though they were the director of a branch that was failing badly. But they probably got a small plastic trophy for being negotiator of the month once and felt like a big shot! With this kind of hiring, it's no wonder the company is declining and will keep going downhill.

The entire interview experience was excellent. Initially, I applied for a position in a different town but couldn't make the scheduled interview. Fortunately, Helen, the manager at the Chelmsford Branch, informed me about an opening in another town and arranged an interview for me. Setting a date was challenging due to my work schedule, so Christine, the manager from the Witham branch, organized a Zoom interview. The process overall was very smooth, and both Helen and Christine were very helpful and attentive. Christine has maintained regular contact and kept me updated. I'm grateful to both Helen and Christine for the great first impression of the company, and I'm excited to join and collaborate with you.