Hydrogen Group plc Recruiter Interview Questions
& Process

It was a casual conversation about my background, my grasp of the company and the industry. They were really interested in my past sales performance and how I hit my numbers. They didn't focus much on teamwork, but were more interested in my willingness to work extra hours to meet goals.

The group interview was quite crowded with too many participants. The day felt very drawn out, and many of the activities didn't seem relevant to recruitment. It was clear early on which candidates the interviewers favored. The whole experience felt artificial. Candidates were informed individually during the day if they hadn't progressed. The interviewers' attitude suggested they were looking for candidates who were overly aggressive and solely motivated by money. I was offended by feedback based on my pronunciation of a few words, especially since two initial phone interviews should have been sufficient for evaluation. This toxic environment seems to prioritize bringing in many candidates for sheer numbers before dismissing them with trivial reasons. Regardless, I would not have accepted an offer to work here, even if one was extended.

The interview process had 3 stages. The first was a telephone interview where a consultant or manager asked about my experience, or if I had none, to tell them about myself. They specifically asked how I developed an interest in recruitment and why I wanted to get into it. The second stage was a face-to-face 1:2 interview with two managers. They asked me to discuss any CV gaps and relate my experience to the role. A bit annoying, I had to call them to set up the third stage, which was a work sample/presentation. I also had to chase them for feedback, which felt like I was always the one initiating contact. They seemed to avoid giving bad news, which I get, but it meant they weren't responsive to my calls or voicemails. My advice is to be yourself and honest, as they respect that. Mention any sales experience you have, or if not, talk about how a cold calling trial might help you improve even if you mess up. I messed up in the work sample, otherwise I think I would've gotten the job. Getting telesales or call centre experience, even customer service for companies like Royal Mail, would prepare you well for assessments with Hydrogen and other recruitment companies.