HotChalk Interview Questions
& Process

I applied on the website and then Michelle, the recruiter, emailed me. We scheduled a time for an initial phone interview about my work history and then she scheduled a time for me to come in to meet with management. I arrived early and Michelle met me in the lobby and took me to a conference room. She was very professional and friendly, and funny, which calmed my nerves. I first met with two ADOAs, Chris and Ryan. They were professional and asked relevant questions. Chris deferred to Ryan for questions he didn't know, mentioning he was new. Ryan answered all my questions and seemed to enjoy his job and working at HotChalk. Then I met with Ed, a DOA. He was serious and professional, making me nervous but emphasizing the job's importance. The interview was about 45 minutes. Michelle returned, asked how it went, and what questions were asked. She clarified things I forgot to ask and seemed knowledgeable about HotChalk and its employees. She mentioned the managers liked me and discussed a potential start date. I was excited and thanked her. She walked me out and said she'd call the next day. She did call as promised and offered me the position.

I had a phone screen with the hiring manager for this entry-level Social Media Specialist role. She talked about the company's growth and potential for advancement. The salary offered was lower than I expected, with a cap of 50K. She mentioned she'd keep me in mind. A couple of weeks later, I was invited for an on-site interview. The on-site was a bit chaotic. The hiring manager didn't confirm my interview date until I followed up, and I wasn't told which floor to go to, so I had to ask someone for directions. When I arrived, there was a scheduling overlap, and another candidate went in before me, which was awkward. I interviewed with a team member and then the hiring manager. There was also a social media skills quiz that I had to complete and email back. I put a lot of effort into it, but I never heard back about whether I was selected or rejected, despite following up via email. This whole experience left a bad impression of the company.

Sent in my resume and got a call to go over job expectations and some general questions. The confirmation email said three interviewers. I had to wait a while, and then during the interview, they were really interactive with each other (making jokes, etc). The questions were mainly about numbers and performance, not really about my skills or what I could bring to the company. It felt unprofessional. About halfway through, I started asking them questions because I was so unimpressed and had already decided it wasn't the right place for me.

The process was super smooth and efficient! It started with a panel interview with four people. Then, I had another interview with just one person. The final round was with the CEO. After that, there was a background check and I heard back from the recruiter about my acceptance. The panels were a pleasant interview.