HZ Interview Questions
& Process

There were 3 interview rounds. Everyone was super nice and laid back. HR replied quickly. They asked about me and what I want out of the company. It was a great positive environment for interviewing.

Got called in for an interview, went and met with the NYC creative team. They were sharp and nice, discussed work and the industry and reviewed my portfolio. Then had to wait for the creative director (who was over an hour late coming into the office for a late morning interview, c'mon). Had to repeat the entire interview before she proceeded to tell me they weren't really looking for a copywriter but someone to do branding exercises, clients were all below no-name (local real estate, etc.; all interesting work is being done in MD/DC office) and strongly hinted they were looking for a woman. All of which is fine, not everything is a perfect fit and that's okay. But I sent a thank you note and never even heard a peep back. My mind was blown that someplace this small-time is comfortable big-leaguing anyone. I'd steer clear.

The interview process started with a technical screen that included coding, scenario-based questions, and technical questions. Then, there was a second round with the manager, which was full of trick questions. The manager asked FTE-type questions for a Contract position and insisted they were the same, which seemed like an excuse to test a candidate's ability to sound smart after passing technical rounds. A bit off.

I got an email on a Wednesday afternoon. It wasn't for a screener, but from a recruiter who wanted me to come in for an in-person interview the next day. I said yes to 9am the next morning, which felt really fast. They didn't offer any breaks or food, and I had to talk to about 10 different people for 5 hours straight. By the end, I couldn't focus, felt weak, and was starving. It was a terrible experience. The whole thing felt rushed and not very professional.