IDEO Business Development Manager Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 9 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at IDEO.
IDEO
Business Development Associate
Entry Average Negative experience No offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Take home Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation Other
The interview process had 4 rounds. The last round was an in-person presentation to 3 people at the Cambridge office. The presentation topic was about what IDEO is currently working on, which felt like free work, especially since they asked for my slides afterward (which I declined). They took another 2 weeks after the 4th round to give me a decision. The whole process took 7 weeks. It seemed like they weren't serious about hiring and just wanted free consulting because the company seems to be having issues. I got the vibe that the company is very disorganized and doesn't respect candidates' time and effort. It was really frustrating.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What makes you want to join IDEO?
IDEO
Business Development Manager
Senior Difficult Negative experience No offer 12 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation Group Other
This was the most confusing and badly managed interview process I've ever encountered. Over three months, I had interviews with more than 20 people, totaling 7 hours of in-person meetings and 1.5 full days, plus 6 separate hour-long video or phone calls. After what seemed like a final interview, they flew me out for a full day, then waited a week to contact me. They then scheduled another day at a different office and had people I wouldn't even be working with assess my "cultural fit." They place a lot of emphasis on "cultural fit," which really just seems to be a way to test class allegiances. The partners and senior staff I met were great, and so were the junior staff. However, the intermediate level had some significant egos. I was later told by a former employee that there was internal disagreement because I attended a good, but not top-tier, college, which was completely irrelevant to my achievements.
Confirmed questions1 question
- How much time would you need to manage projects independently?
IDEO
Business Development Lead
Lead Difficult Positive experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral
This role had a multistage interview process, with different team members leading each part. They let us know the goal of each stage beforehand. The recruiting lead was super proactive and clear with communication throughout the whole thing. They really tried to make it engaging, even when we had to wait around. I didn't get an offer, but I was really impressed with the team and how they made the recruitment and interview experience clear, fair, and engaging.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you describe a project that didn't meet expectations and what you learned from it, including any different actions you would have taken?
IDEO Business Development Manager Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from IDEO interview reports.
“How much time would you need to manage projects independently?”
Read reports →“Can you share an instance where you showed empathy, and describe your actions?”
Read reports →“How do you handle a new client's problem?”
Read reports →“What makes you want to join IDEO?”
Read reports →“Can you tell me about your experience using Excel?”
Read report →“What are you most enthusiastic about regarding this position?”
Read report →“Can you present some case studies on how you approach inquiries?”
Read report →“How does this role fit into your career path?”
Read report →“What makes you interested in this position?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 9 IDEO interview reports.