Productive Power Interview Questions
& Process

So I applied, and then they had me call a Google phone number to leave a recorded message with some basic info. Right after that, I got another email saying they wanted to do a Zoom interview. I chatted with a manager on Zoom for about 30 minutes. They then asked me to set up a 'mock interview' with someone else from Productive Power to see how I'd interview people. About 3 days after that mock interview, I got an email saying they were going with other candidates. That recorded message thing might seem weird, but honestly, I think it's a smart way to filter people out. As a recruiter, I can usually tell if someone's a good fit within a minute of hearing them talk based on their tone, enthusiasm, and how they communicate. If they're not a good fit during an actual interview, I feel like I have to keep going even though I know it won't work out, which wastes everyone's time. This way, Productive Power can hear someone speak and see if they're a good match without investing too much time or effort. It totally makes sense for a company that's all about efficiency and productivity. The manager I talked to on Zoom was smart and easy to chat with. She was really passionate about Productive Power and their mission and told me a lot about the job, what they expect, and the company culture. I did find out that the job posting on their website wasn't totally accurate about the role, but that was my only issue. I'd suggest renaming the job title to Recruiter and Special Project Manager to cover everything involved. The mock interview is where things went wrong for me... I totally get the idea behind it, but it felt really awkward, and I think it showed. I was supposed to be interviewing a candidate for a Software Trainer role, but this person was already an employee and was coached to ask me specific questions about the company. I studied to answer them, but when you're given scripted questions that need scripted answers, you can't really be authentic or show off your actual skills. I'd really push them to ditch the mock interview and instead ask questions that really challenge the interviewee and give them a chance to genuinely showcase their skills and experience.

After applying, I got an email asking me to call a number and answer three questions, which was the first step. Right after I left the voicemail, they emailed me to set up an interview with the recruiter. I had a basic interview with the recruiter and then a short mock training session with them. After that, I interviewed with the CEO. The whole process took about two months to get an offer, which I thought was pretty fast compared to other jobs. The initial voicemail questions were a bit unusual for me, but I guess it's a good way to sort through a lot of applicants. The rest of the interview steps were what I'd expect for a software training role, and everything was done over video.

I was contacted by someone claiming to be an online recruiter. We had several long recorded online interviews, but ultimately no offer was made. I felt I was too qualified for the role based on my education, experience, and technical skills. When I asked why I didn't get an offer, they refused to give feedback, citing confidentiality of their screening process. This company's stated revenue seems way lower than their estimated labor costs. I should have noticed the warning signs earlier. It was a huge waste of my time and effort. They seem like a really sketchy company that only communicates online. Looking back, I regret ever talking to them. Either I'm a terrible interviewee, or they aren't genuinely seeking enthusiastic, skilled, and knowledgeable trainers. I'd advise staying away from them.

First, there was a recruiter phone call where they asked me about my training background. Then, I had a second interview which was a mock training session. I had to teach one of their employees a skill in PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel, OneNote, or Google Chrome to increase productivity. I picked something in Excel. I felt like I showed the content well, but I wasn't sure if I did a good enough job with the 'engaging' part.