D. E. Shaw & Co. - Investment Firm Executive Assistant Interview Questions
& Process

This interview process felt really long and frustrating. First, I had to do a 75-minute case study before even talking to anyone. It's a lot for an EA role, especially since I didn't know how it would be graded or how much it mattered. The interviews themselves were actually good though – really interesting and focused on practical stuff like decision-making, real situations, and teamwork. I felt good after each one. But then it just ended with a rejection and no feedback, which was weird given how much they asked me to do and how well I thought the interviews went. What was really odd was how they say they like elite academics, but the EAs there don't seem to have that, and they seemed uncomfortable with people who did. It made things tense. The people were professional and the company seems high-class, but the lack of clear info, mixed signals about culture, and insecurity about qualifications made it a bummer. Basically, they expect a lot but don't give much clarity, feedback, or consistency back.

The whole interview process took about four months, and there were a bunch of really long interviews. I actually liked chatting with everyone, but I was bummed it took so long. It was especially weird because I ended up getting an offer for a job I didn't even apply for in the first place.

This interview process lasted more than two months and involved meeting six people, including other Executive Assistants, the EA manager, the VP of EAs, and a team member I might support. I also completed a case study. Everyone I met was very pleasant. The interviews were all behavioral. After a few rounds, I met with a team member, which the recruiting agency indicated was the final step. However, I was rejected afterward without any explanation. While I understand rejections happen, the lack of feedback was disappointing, especially since the recruiter stated they couldn't share any for legal reasons, which differs from my experience with other companies. Given I invested over six hours of my personal time, speaking with six individuals and completing a case study, I expected a more professional and considerate response. For early-stage candidates, a simple pass might be acceptable, but for those reaching the final stages, the absence of empathy is disheartening. This aligns with the agency's messages about non-negotiable salary and inflexible offers. I remain very interested in the role and joining the team. However, the interview process could certainly be improved.