Prialto Interview Questions
& Process

It was a while ago, maybe x years back, and I don't recall all the specifics. What I do remember is feeling a bit awkward because I struggled to translate my thoughts into English properly. But, I get it, since they work with international clients, and I know I need more practice with that.

The interview process was quite long. Round 1 was a brief phone screen, barely enough time to talk about my background. Round 2 involved an in-person interview with the hiring manager and their supervisor. Then, a surprise Round 3 interview was scheduled with less than 24 hours' notice because the COO was traveling. While communication with the Prialto hiring team was thorough, their response time was slow, and I had to follow up multiple times for updates. My initial Round 2 interview had to be rescheduled, but I wasn't informed until the night before. The team was very nice, even though it felt a bit misleading given their positive feedback and updates on my progress. After about six weeks of interviewing without an offer, they suggested I watch for new roles as they were expanding. Seeing new openings, I emailed both the hiring manager and their supervisor about interviewing for them, but I haven't heard back and don't anticipate hearing back. They describe themselves as an established company with startup energy.

The interview process started with a screening phone call with someone from the hiring team, followed by 2 in-office interviews with different managers, a "conversation" with the CEO, and a team lunch. While the process has evolved, some aspects might remain similar. They focus on STAR questions to gauge your client interaction abilities and expect candidates to be overqualified. They even delved into my college transcript and past coursework, which felt unusual given my graduation timeline. They also requested high school and college transcripts and inquired about my personal finance management, the relevance of which was unclear. Upon offering the role, the salary was surprisingly low, less than my prior job. When I questioned its negotiability, the manager seemed surprised and questioned the offer itself, leading to an uncomfortable exchange. He then illegally asked about my previous salary, which I chose not to disclose. The overall hiring approach felt like a "You are lucky to be here" situation, reflecting the company culture. The CEO seems disconnected from the cost of living in Portland and is reluctant to offer competitive wages. Although some newer managers might push for more ethical compensation practices, the process felt ethically questionable in retrospect, despite my initial relief at securing a job. I regret not trusting my instincts and advocating for myself more strongly.

The interview process kicked off with email correspondence, then a series of phone interviews. This was followed by an in-person meeting with the manager. The Prialto CEO and team place a high value on culture, especially given their small team size of 5-10 employees. After meeting the team for lunch, I felt like I was among ambitious, like-minded self-starters. However, the subsequent meeting with the CEO didn't go as smoothly and might have been the reason I wasn't selected in the end. It was a close call, but I was never 'ghosted.' Everyone was respectful, and I wish them the best.