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Free People Designer Interview Questions
& Process

Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.

Based on 13 interview experiences · FREE TO READ

2.6 Rounds average
Average Typical difficulty
30.8% Positive experience

Candidate interview experiences

First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Free People.

Showing 3 of 13
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Free People

Designer

Design · more than a year ago

Entry Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Phone screen Technical screen Onsite Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation

It was a phone interview, then a zoom interview, followed by a project setup and finally an in-person interview with 4 members of the design team. It was a long process and they gave a second brief. One small project was enough since the designer's time is not paid for.

Confirmed questions1 question
  • How do you see yourself fitting into the brand's design team?
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Free People

Designer

Design · more than a year ago

Entry Average Negative experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Take home Presentation
Interview formats
Technical Presentation Other

This was a really long and tough interview process. They asked tons of questions, but didn't share much about the actual job. It turns out there wasn't even a real opening. They expect design candidates to do a lot of design work. After I sent about 15 submissions, they kept asking for more. I eventually stopped sending them sketches. When I pressed them, they finally admitted they were looking for designers in general, but not for the specific role I applied for. I heard from school that this company sometimes does this to get free designs, but I didn't listen. Just sharing what happened. Be aware of what you're getting into and don't spend too much time on design projects for this company, as you might end up giving them your work for free.

Confirmed questions1 question
  • The biggest surprise was that there wasn't an actual job opening, and the work I thought I was putting in was for a fabricated position designed to get free labor.
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Free People

Designer

Design

Senior Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation

It started with a phone screening, then a zoom call with the director. The recruiters were helpful. The director seemed unaware of the interview's purpose when she joined. I introduced myself and the role. After a pause, I offered to show my resume, which we then reviewed. When it came to my portfolio, she cut me short, citing another call and urging me to be quick. She then interrupted my presentation to ask for more "detailed" work. When I asked for clarification, she stated it's a senior position requiring more than what I presented. I offered to do a project if my portfolio, which included mood boards, color palettes, sketches with technical notes, wasn't sufficient. She then asked about the recruiter and if I was informed about preparation. I maintained politeness, then withdrew my application due to another opportunity. It was a very negative experience.

Confirmed questions1 question
  • Can you describe your experience at "xyz" company?

Free People Designer Interview Questions

Quoted word for word from Free People interview reports.

Create a design project that envisions innovating the brand.

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Tell me about how you discover new ideas and where you find inspiration.

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Could you complete a project that aligned with the brand identity?

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How do you see yourself fitting into the brand's design team?

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Formats, difficulty and experience

Across all 13 Free People interview reports.

Interview formats

Presentation 29.2%
Technical 25%
Behavioral 25%
Other 20.8%

Interview difficulty

Easy 0%
Average 61.5%
Difficult 38.5%

Candidate experience

Neutral 15.4%
Negative 53.8%
Positive 30.8%