McGarrah Jessee Interview Questions
& Process

I had an initial skype interview because I was out of town, and then they flew me in. The actual interview was 5 hours long in their lobby, with different people rotating in and out to talk to me. It felt a bit disorganized, and many of them asked me the same things about my background, my thoughts on the agency, and why I wanted to relocate to Austin. I later found out they were actually looking to hire a Media Planner, not an Assistant Media Planner, even though I'd checked with HR beforehand. Knowing that might have changed how I answered some questions. The questions were generally easy and focused on my past experience and my views on teamwork, as company culture seems really important. I didn't love spending the whole interview time in the lobby, though.

The interview process was really drawn out and felt unorganized on their end. After 3 months of interviewing with multiple call-backs and what felt like genuine interest in hiring me, they ended up ghosting me altogether instead of giving me word that I didn't get the job and they had given it to someone else. When I responded asking them if there was anything I could have done differently or that they think I could improve on, they never replied or offered any feedback. I think anyone who gets that far through the interview process deserves the respect of at least an answer yes or no, and if it's a no it is so appreciated as the person interviewing to get feedback on all the work they did. Very disappointed.

The interview gave me a lot of chances to talk about my past work and what I can do. The interviewer paid attention and asked good follow-up questions. They were also really open about what the company culture is like and the tough parts of the job, which I thought was great. I especially liked how the interviewer used real examples and situations related to the job, which made it easier to get what they expected and needed. They also shared some info about the company's goals and values, helping me understand the culture and expectations better.

The hiring and review process is lengthy. Culture is paramount at McJ and as a result, you meet with and talk with a ton of different people. First there is the phone interview with just one person. Then there is usually a casual sit down with a couple of your to-be peers. If you get by both of those meetings, then you meet with a cross-section of the entire agency. It's a great idea really. Not only are they making sure you are a good fit but it gives you a perfect chance to vet them, making sure you actually want to work there.