Fahrenheit 212 Associate Interview Questions
& Process

I sent my resume and had a phone interview with an employee in the "ideas" department. While the company sounds great and I know someone in design who loves it there, the employee sounded a bit arrogant, more business school than art school. It made me think that while "innovation" is taught in business schools, many product creators don't come from business school and ideas aren't from formulas. I got the impression she never created an innovative product or took a risk, but rather wrote case studies and billed companies for expertise. I was upset the interview didn't go anywhere, but not surprised since we weren't a good fit. She sounded unengaged, condescending, and cold. I also didn't have the formal "innovation business" background they wanted.

Had a bunch of chill chats about innovation with lots of people from the team (on both sides). Then, had a final presentation that threw some curveballs – less time than expected and tons of questions – about an innovation case. The first questions were mostly behavioral (about 25%), and the rest of the time across 5 interviews was spent talking about my innovation ideas, how I'd tackle innovation challenges, and what aspects of innovation I find most interesting.

I chatted with someone on the phone initially, then connected with another employee. We then had a 30-minute phone chat covering my past experiences and what I'm seeking in a company. He asked about my interest in the company and in innovation. He also asked about my background and its relevance to the field. Then, he gave me a feel for the office culture and vibe. However, he seemed rushed and stumbled over his words or repeated questions. There were moments where he needed me to clarify or repeat myself. Despite saying the employees are genuine and friendly, his personality came across as a bit insincere and cold.