National Geographic Society Social Media Manager Interview Questions
& Process

I had a couple of phone calls and then was asked to come in for an interview. The interview day itself involved meeting with four individuals and then a three-person panel. It was a long day, but everyone was nice. Some interviewers were definitely more challenging than others. I felt pretty good about it overall, like I was welcomed and respected. The recruiter contacted me a couple of weeks later to say I didn't get the job. Then, a week after that, she reached out again asking if I was still interested and sent a pretty big assignment. I said yes, I'm still interested, but I wanted to know where I stood and get confirmation that they wouldn't use my written content for their platforms. After that, I was totally ghosted. The whole process dragged on for over two months, and it was for a three-month contract.

I interviewed with the senior vice president, the head of audience development, and a team member. After I completed a writing test where I had to create headlines, social posts, and examples of "activations" for distributing a project, Nat Geo pretty much ghosted me. I only found out that the headcount was pulled a couple of months later from a friend who works there.

A manager reached out to my department for applicants and I applied directly to her. She asked my professors for a recommendation letter. She emailed me back for an interview about three weeks later. I had a phone interview with the Manager and another person for almost an hour the next day. It was the most difficult, thorough, and organized interview I've ever had. I received an offer 3 days later.