PuffCo Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process had 5 stages. It started with a screening call and then a 1 on 1 with the hiring manager. After a month of no contact, I was invited to their LA office for an in-person interview. They seemed unprepared, as three people I was supposed to meet weren't there. I ended up meeting one person in person and another virtually. When I was leaving, they asked about my availability to start and said they were 'keeping me warm,' which felt pretty insulting. The fifth interview was with the person who wasn't in the office for my earlier interview. More silence followed. After I called, they got back to me later to say I didn't get the job. It felt like a waste of time and a disrespectful hiring process.

So I actually interviewed with Puffco twice, a couple years back. The first time, I went through four interviews and then got rejected with no explanation. About a year later, I tried again and made it to the second interview. I mentioned I'd interviewed before, and things were going well until then. The next day, they rejected me again. Still no reasons or follow-up. Super unprofessional.

I applied online in May and over the next three months, I had Zoom calls with 4 executives. Finally, I completed a 3-hour onsite interview. This involved meeting with the same 4 executives again for a panel discussion where they asked the same questions as before. I also met with 4 other business leaders. I asked for a tour of the suite, which they gave me, as I was curious about the workspace due to Covid and noise levels. About two weeks after my onsite, a company representative called to let me know I didn't get the job and provided feedback, which I appreciated. Everyone thought I was qualified, but they felt I seemed nervous during the onsite, which made them doubt my ability to handle difficult situations. I admit I get distracted in new environments and this office was unique with vaping equipment, an in-house studio, and the smell of weed, so it's possible my attention was divided while answering questions. It's a shame this was the reason for rejection. On the positive side, most people were friendly and welcoming, with some saying Puffco was the best place they'd ever worked. The CFO was particularly great. They have 'Hashi Hour' instead of Happy Hour, and the office setup encouraged social interaction. However, I consistently received emails on Saturday nights, raising concerns about work-life balance or the HR team's time management. Additionally, there was no feedback from the business leaders I met, and the scheduling process was difficult and unautomated, with two no-shows onsite, indicating disorganization and poor internal communication.

Applied on LinkedIn and got a response in about a week. Had two phone screens the next week: first with a recruiter (10-20 mins) and then a few days later with the Customer Service Manager (also 10-20 mins). About a week after that, I had an in-house interview that lasted 2-3 hours. I met with the Customer Service Manager, Community Manager, and the CEO. They made it a comfortable environment even though it was a bit intimidating. I got a good feel for the company culture and really liked the vibe. Got an offer the day after and accepted! The 3-week process shows they really want to find the right person.