OwnLocal Interview Questions
& Process

You apply on the OwnLocal site, then submit a project. After that, you'll have a phone interview, followed by an in-person team interview. Finally, you'll come in for a culture fit interview with the rest of the company. OwnLocal really emphasizes finding the right fit for everyone on the team, not just for the specific role. Everyone is involved in the hiring process because everyone at this company is an owner in some way. They invest a lot of time in finding the right people because they don't want to deal with a revolving door of employees like many startups. OwnLocal's hiring process is unconventional because their work is unconventional. It requires a unique person with a diverse skill set. If you're just looking to fill a seat and punch a clock, you won't like this process. But if you want to be part of something impactful in an industry that needs it, leave your ego behind and be ready for an unorthodox interview.

OwnLocal has a clear idea of what they're looking for. Their hiring process is pretty unique and helps them find people who vibe with their company culture. You apply online, and they'll shoot you an email to let you know if they're keen. The feedback was super direct and came back faster than I'm used to, which was a plus. I got to the phone interview stage, and it was pretty challenging, just like any other phone interview. Make sure you do your homework on the company, ask some questions, and just be yourself. Everyone was really nice, and I'd totally apply again if other roles open up at OwnLocal.

The interview process had 3 main steps after the initial application. First, there was a project where I had to write cold emails to a newspaper and create a cold call script for contacting them. Then, I had a team interview with executives and sales team members in a panel format. Finally, about a week after the team interview, I had a culture fit interview. This was the longest part, with 4 rounds like speed dating, where I met people from all teams and departments. I really enjoyed this last part because I got to know potential colleagues and people from other departments I might work with.

So, I went through the entire interview process with OwnLocal. It started with a phone interview, then a project, followed by an onsite interview. After that, I had a call with the CEO and another with the 'Chief of Staff.' They made it clear they were very interested in me because I got so far. They mentioned I'd have more 'culture fit' interviews with the whole team, and then they'd have a vote. 'So you'll know everyone wants you here.' Apparently, you need a unanimous vote to get hired? I didn't hear back for a week, so I emailed my contact. She said, 'Conflicting travel schedules, we'll be in touch soon!' Another week went by. I called my contact, and she said, 'We are having the vote tomorrow, so you will know by then!' (They never actually brought me in for the 'culture fit' interview, by the way). A few more days passed, and I finally emailed them, 'I haven't heard from you... what's up?' No response. It's been almost four weeks, and I never even got a rejection email. I know they're a start-up, but this lack of professionalism is unacceptable. Future candidates, brace yourselves for anxious silences from their end.