Electro Rent Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process consisted of four rounds spread over a month and a week. Initially, there was a phone call with the Sr. Manager of Talent who discussed the role and inquired about my general marketing background and familiarity with specific platforms and methods. Following that, I had a video interview with my potential manager, who delved deeper into my experience and mentioned a subsequent panel interview involving a project. The third stage was a video panel interview where I presented a response to a prompt given 24 hours prior. While a full presentation deck wasn't required, it was advisable to have one. This interview included my prospective manager, the previous role holder, and two colleagues I'd work with. The final round was a phone interview with a C-suite executive, scheduled this way due to travel constraints, serving as a final qualification. I received the offer the day after this last interview.

I went through two successful Zoom interviews with the Head of IT and Head of HR, both based in the US. My US-based recruiter mentioned they were very impressed and not considering other candidates. I was then invited to an in-person interview at the Harrow office to meet the team and see if we'd get along. However, upon arrival, no one was expecting me, and no one was available to speak with me. After three weeks of silence, the recruiter informed me that the position had been offered to someone else.

A recruiter reached out on LinkedIn about an opening, and after we spoke, they sent over a formal job description. The role seemed like a good fit, and the company has a solid industry reputation. We exchanged emails, I sent my resume, and then the hiring manager scheduled a call. Communication was good and responsive, which was a nice change from other experiences. I had a great conversation with the hiring manager. It felt less like an interrogation and more like a collaborative search for a good fit, similar to later discussions with executives. This approach made me more interested in Electro Rent, unlike other companies that felt adversarial. The positive interview experience reinforced my desire to join, strengthening my initial interest.

It was a one-on-one interview at the ER Van Nuys office. I first met with HR and took a web-based IQ/Personality test. Then, I had a brief 15-minute meeting with the HR manager before meeting the Assistant Controller. She seemed impressed with my background and work. Her questions were a strange mix of behavioral and technical, like asking if it's okay to organize the file room or if mistakes are acceptable. She mentioned that her boss, the Controller, and the company President are very picky and that mistakes are not acceptable and could lead to termination. It seems upper management likes to shift blame. I then steered the conversation towards workload and expectations. I also asked about annual reviews. She was direct, stating not to expect yearly raises, with raises at Electro Rent typically ranging from 0.5% to 3% based on budget. She noted a salary freeze in 2008, 2009, and 2010. When asked about raises after the freeze was lifted in 2011, she said it varied, with some getting 0% and others up to 5%. We then returned to standard accounting questions about debits and credits to finish the interview.