Instacart Operations Manager Interview Questions
& Process

Applied online for the Area Manager role in Seattle. About a week after applying, I got an email from the recruiter to schedule a phone interview. The recruiter was super energetic and seemed really passionate about Instacart, and the interview went well. She told me a lot about the role and the day-to-day tasks. Since the initial chat went well, she sent me a data challenge. I had to analyze store operations, identify what was going well, what the opportunities were, and propose solutions, all in a 3-slide PowerPoint. One slide was about the performance overview for all 5 Shift Leads. I had to pick two stores to focus on for the week and then email the Shift Lead about their performance. A week later, I got feedback that my data analysis wasn't strong enough for the Operations Manager/Hiring Manager. They said my solutions were confusing and out of scope. I didn't even get to present my work. They mentioned wanting to beat Amazon, which they literally said. If they want to beat Amazon, they should rethink what's 'out of scope.' Having worked at Amazon, I know why they lead in many areas, and companies like Instacart struggle to keep up! Overall, it was a decent interview experience.

The interview process was super easy starting with an HR phone call for a general get-to-know-you. Following that, a technical case study was sent out. This case study required using pivot tables and pivot charts to analyze provided data, and then making a 5-point suggestion with findings. There was also a bonus section asking for SQL. The entire case study felt like a fraud because they send you real data and problems, ask you to solve them, and then give you nothing in return, essentially using you as a free external consultant. If they like your ideas and data, they'll use them without any compensation to you. They seem to use applicants' ideas and analysis without giving anything back. No matter how well you respond, they'll reject you but keep your answers, making you feel used. If you've done case studies before, you'll know the drill: you're given 24 hours to complete the analysis, but I suggest doing it faster than the allotted time.

I had an intro call with a recruiter and then another call with the hiring manager. The interviews were spaced out over weeks and the communication was slow, like they weren't in a rush to fill the position. I was given a data challenge (excel scenario and presentation) to complete within 48 hours, and they said I'd get feedback in two business days. I didn't hear back for 7 business days until I followed up with the recruiter, who then sent me a rejection. They also offered again to give me feedback on my data challenge (if I wanted it), and even though I said I'd appreciate it, I never heard back from them. The whole experience was really invalidating and I wouldn't apply to this company again.