Franklin Energy Interview Questions
& Process

So, first I had a quick 30 minute chat with the recruiter, just to go over some basic stuff and let me ask questions. Then, I jumped on a call with the hiring leader, which actually went longer than planned because we had a good conversation. After that, radio silence. No follow-up at all, not even a peep. Tried to connect with the recruiter and manager on LinkedIn, only to find out they'd both left the company.

The first step was a phone interview that was mostly about personality, like asking about my strengths, why I'd be a good fit over others, and my salary expectations. They also gave me a rundown of the company's history.

I sent my resume through CareerBuilder for a role at Franklin. They have many openings. HR first screened me over the phone. Then, I had to take an online Myers-Briggs personality test. I found out later that if you try to game it, they prefer candidates with outgoing personalities. They then asked me to travel to their headquarters in Wisconsin. Make sure to get your travel expense reimbursement upfront because I'm not sure yet if they'll pay for mileage or meals. The interview itself was with four executives: the President, two Operations VPs, and the HR Director. Everyone was nice, and the questions were pretty standard, except for the HR Director who seemed to be trying to do a quick psychological analysis. They also ran a credit check and a drug test before making an offer. The office is in an old church building, which is a nice setting. The company culture is extremely casual, even wearing jeans, and not very corporate-feeling. It seems like a privately held company where profits stay at the top. While the culture in Wisconsin seems laid-back, outside of the state, it appears chaotic. They've grown fast without solid procedures or consistent organization. I'm giving the interview experience a negative rating because it took way too long.

I spoke with the Regional HR Manager over the phone, and then later had an interview with the CEO and VP of Operations. It was an informal chat to get to know me better and talk about my past work and experiences. In the end, they were considering downgrading the position or not hiring anyone at all, and the HR Manager had a very strict salary budget. While I appreciated the chance to interview, I felt my time was wasted because of how disappointing the whole process was. I would have preferred a personal call instead of getting a 'we're not moving forward' email. Not impressed.