Molton Brown Interview Questions
& Process

There was 1 interview round and 1 trial shift at the store. Both were pretty short, only 20-30 minutes. The store manager had a prepared list of questions from the company, but it also felt like a conversation where they explained their methods and asked about my background. The trial shift was a chance to meet the team and see if we'd get along. We didn't have many customers that day, so I couldn't really show off my skills as much as I'd hoped.

I had a first stage interview with an HR associate for a mid-senior role at a mid-premium store. They asked a lot of questions but they weren't really targeted to my strong experience in managing a store. The interview apparently went well and I was told I'd get an email or call about a second stage or feedback, but I never heard back.

I saw the Marketing Manager job for Hotels on LinkedIn and applied through the Molton Brown website, where I put my base salary info. The Talent team reached out, saying the hiring manager wanted to skip the initial recruiter call and move me straight to an interview. After that, the recruiter called the next day, saying the interview went well, my skills were a good fit, and they wanted me to come for a final interview in London the next week. They asked about salary again, and I mentioned what I'd put on the application. The recruiter gave me the top salary range but said it wouldn't be an issue. I told them I was open to negotiation because I was really interested. About 8 hours later, I got a standard 'thanks for interviewing' email. The recruiter mentioned a different salary band than she'd told me earlier (after checking with the hiring manager) and said I wouldn't move forward because I was above it. No real explanation, and they wouldn't budge on a few thousand pounds. The whole process felt messy and disappointing. It seems like I shouldn't have even gotten the first interview if my salary, which they asked for on the application, was already too high. They also should have screened me on salary and culture fit earlier. Molton Brown seems to pay less than market rate for a Marketing Manager/Brand role, and especially undervalues women. Be mindful of the salary, what others are paid in the industry, and your own worth before applying.

So there were 3 stages to this interview process. First, there was an initial screening call. Then, I had an hour-long face-to-face interview with two other Project Managers. The final interview was with the senior project manager. I originally applied way back in August 2019 and got an email addressed to someone else, which was super unprofessional. I emailed to sort it out and called the person twice, leaving messages, but got no response. Eventually, another colleague emailed back, apologizing for the delay as she'd taken over. About a month later, I got an email to schedule a chat with their Senior Project Manager about my suitability and the interview process. But, at the very last minute, it got cancelled and rescheduled to speak with one of their Project Managers instead, which was a bit inconsiderate since I'd already blocked off time in my busy schedule. When I finally spoke to that PM, he mostly asked the same questions about my availability, why I was applying, and my salary expectations, which I found odd since that info was already given via email. Then, I was invited to Elsenham, near Stansted, for a face-to-face interview with the same PM who did the screening call. Again, at the last minute, it was rescheduled for later, which I agreed to. On the interview day, they didn't mention that two PMs would be interviewing me, which I thought was poor communication and inconsiderate. This interview was competency and behavioral based, with some general questions about the location and how to get to both offices. After that, I was invited back for a final interview at the Shaftesbury Avenue office in London with the SPM. Honestly, the final interview was the worst and most uncomfortable experience I've EVER had. Before it started, she was really nice and chatty. But as soon as the interview began, she put on a serious act, didn't smile at all, looked at me like dirt, and made sarcastic comments that made me feel totally unworthy. Interviews are already stressful, but she made the whole hour incredibly uncomfortable and unpleasant. I didn't get the job, and I followed up multiple times for feedback. I was really upset that they had three interviews, made me travel from hundreds of miles away to Stansted and London, and still couldn't provide simple feedback. It's a joke and says a lot about the company, its culture, people, and hiring process. It's probably a good thing I didn't get the job, as I wouldn't want to report to someone who treats people like that or a company that doesn't value candidates and their experience.