National Strategic Corporation Interview Questions
& Process

I think some people might find this process long because they're new to working. A lot of reviews say there were too many interviews and a writing test, which is a lot for an entry-level job. Even though I was applying for something more senior, the process was the same. There were 4 virtual interviews due to COVID, and I did complete the assessment. Entry-level folks need to know this is pretty normal, especially for marketing roles. If you don't know some terms, you gotta research them yourself. One person hoped to learn on the job, and you will, but the assessment shows how much a company would need to teach you. Also, if you don't have specific strengths they're looking for, it might not be the right job for you. I thought the assessment was fair and I did my best. It was assigned on a Thursday, and I asked if Monday at 8 AM was okay for a deadline, and they agreed. Three days felt like enough time. The rest of the process felt pretty standard. I had other interviews with similar numbers of rounds and their own assessments, so it's really not that much if you think about it. Yes, I've had jobs with shorter processes, but every company is different. I just want people to know this process isn't unheard of. However, recent grads could be given more info about the interview process upfront, but in my career, I've never seen that; you just figure it out as you go. Other than that, the questions were typical, and I never felt stumped. I declined the offer because I got another job with responsibilities NSG doesn't currently cover, and I couldn't pass those up. I had good conversations with the NSG team; they're knowledgeable, and I wish them well.

So I applied for a Marketing Manager role, but after the first chat with Jennifer, it turned into Client Strategist. Every interview, they were late. First was a 20 min call, felt rushed and unfocused. Then I got a marketing campaign assignment, took me 8 hours. Second interview had supposed to be 2 people but one only showed up at the end. That one went well though, we talked salary and start date, and then got offered a third interview with the CEO. That one was rough. The CEO was rude and late, on his phone a lot, asked condescending questions. He made me do this weird exercise from a magazine, picking the best and worst ad. When I tried to analyze the best one, he just kept pushing for a 'right' answer I didn't have. It was super uncomfortable. He gave no feedback, just rude. After, I got a weird email asking about my timeline. I followed up two weeks later and was immediately told no. It was a long, draining process that gave me hope then ended disrespectfully.

They mentioned they have no budget for the role, which is a red flag. The recruiter confirmed this when asked. It feels dishonest and unprofessional. They make candidates complete an assignment before any interview, supposedly to see if they'd like the work, but it takes hours. Then, during the actual interview, instead of typical questions, they present scenarios related to their own company's problems. It's like they want free consulting to fix their issues, which is similar to the assignment you already did. They don't end up hiring anyone, and it seems they are using candidates to solve their problems without paying for it. They seem to have no HR staff but are hiring for an 'entry level' HR role with a long process and no budget, which is very telling.

I got a call from a manager about my qualifications and interests, and how I'd fit in. She thought I sounded like a good fit for the company culture and sent me an assignment before my interview. I thought it was a bit much for an entry-level, low-paying job, but I did it anyway. It was super detailed, asking me to make graphics, analyze data, and plan a full digital marketing campaign for a made-up eyewear brand. It took me ages. On the interview day, the front desk person barely noticed me, and I had to wait 10 minutes past my start time. I first met with two people for about 30 minutes, then two more for about 45 minutes. Those parts seemed to go well, and I was looking forward to the last part. After a 15-minute wait in a conference room, I met with the CEO. He seemed totally distracted the whole time, even pausing our chat to message someone on Microsoft Teams. He then asked me a bunch of questions he seemed unhappy with and gave me a 'case-study' - basically, he pulled a flyer from the trash and asked me to pick the best and worst ads and explain why. Then he grilled me on market best practices, even though they knew I was new and wanted to learn, and basically trashed my assignment, saying I missed a lot of things, even though they gave zero instructions, just a vague 'don't limit creativity' prompt. The whole thing was really unprofessional and a waste of my time (I was there for 3 hours). It's been 6 weeks, and they've ghosted me with no response to my calls or emails. Don't bother.