Jive Software Project Manager Interview Questions
& Process

The hiring and interview process at Jive is an intensive, but extremely valuable experience. Expect to interview with many people -- over the course of two half-day sessions, I spoke with many of the managers in my group, and almost my whole team. The benefit -- coming to work Day 1, I had already met many people, and knew what I was getting into (all good!). When I initially applied for the position, there was a preliminary phone screen with the recruiter, then a follow up with the hiring manager, which resulted in the onsite interviews. In my case, the position was put on hold for a bit, so I was brought in for an additional half-day session a few months after the first. I think the usual practice is just one onsite interview, lasting about a half-day.

The interview process was pretty standard, not particularly unique for a company that seems innovative like Jive. It began with a recruiter reaching out on LinkedIn, and we had a good chat. I felt like the company culture and my own skills and goals were a good fit after that. There was a significant waiting period of several weeks without any updates, during which I moved on. Then I interviewed with the hiring manager. This phone interview was quite underwhelming. The manager seemed disengaged and even admitted to not having my resume handy. While I don't expect them to have it memorized, it felt like they hadn't reviewed my resume or even knew who I was. It was a total contrast to the initial call with the recruiter. I left that interview trying to convince myself that the role and company were right for me. After almost a month, I got an automated email stating I wasn't proceeding. Ultimately, it's for the best, but I can't help but wonder if things might have turned out differently with a more engaged hiring manager.

I've been interested in Jive for 4 years since moving to Portland. A Jive recruiter reached out via LinkedIn, and I followed up. I wasn't actively looking, so I had to update my resume. It was a holiday weekend, giving me time to retool. After sending it back, they quickly scheduled a phone interview. Following that, they scheduled a 3-hour face-to-face meeting at their Portland office with 4 senior people from the department I'd join. The meetings were structured and professional, but also welcoming, with genuine interest in me and how I'd fit into the Jive Community. After the onsite, I had one more phone interview with a C-level executive overseeing the department. This executive was friendly and asked thought-provoking questions that gave me a sense of his vision for the division. Overall, it was a well-run, structured process with good communication and clear next steps. My recruiter was accessible throughout, and Jive addressed questions quickly.