NerdWallet Writer Interview Questions
& Process

They did a recruiter phone screen first, then a one-hour video call with one person. After that, there was another one-hour video call with two people, followed by a written article assignment. The final stage was a three-hour video interview with seven people. They send a "recruiter satisfaction survey" before giving a decision, which feels a bit like pressure to respond positively.

I got reached out to by a recruiter a few months after I applied online. She wanted to set up a phone call to chat more about the job. When we talked, she was on time, nice, and gave me a good overview of things. She then asked me to do a writing test that I had a week to finish. After I sent it in, they contacted me in just a few hours to set up a video interview. Because it was going to be pretty long (over 3 hours), they were super flexible about finding a time that worked with my current job. It ended up being one of the longest and toughest interviews I've ever done. I talked to 9 different people, but everyone was punctual, friendly, and professional. They asked about all sorts of things from my past jobs to my personality and how I'd deal with certain scenarios. I was a bit worried after reading some bad experiences online, but honestly, the whole hiring process was handled really well and they were super respectful of my time.

I applied to be a freelance writer for their online articles in February. First, they sent a spreadsheet with hospital ratings data and asked me to organize it in a specific way and write a 1000-word article about the best hospitals. They estimated it would take 2-3 hours, but it took me longer. I had a week to finish it. A few days after I submitted it, they said I passed and wanted me to do another writing test that would be published if I passed. They gave me another 7-day deadline, but I emailed them because that week was busy for me and I needed more time. The person I spoke to said they'd have to give me a different test, and hinted that they were hiring fast, so it would be bad for me to ask for more time. I thought it was pointless but asked if they could give me a different test in a couple of days. I didn't get a response. I then emailed her boss to see if she got my email. The original person replied the same day I emailed the boss and gave me the same test with an 'extension.' This meant I only had four days to finish the test because I hadn't started organizing the spreadsheet data while waiting for her reply, thinking she'd give me a different test. I was rushed and it wasn't my best work, but I did my best. I didn't get an offer and they didn't explain why when I asked. I'm kind of glad I didn't get it though, considering this company doesn't seem to value your time or schedule.