Rewards Network Interview Questions
& Process

I had a 30-minute recruiter Zoom call, followed by an hour-long hiring manager call. The recruiter call felt a bit off; she seemed disorganized and not very professional. She also asked if I could cover my own travel expenses for a potential onsite or stay with friends/family, as it wasn't in their budget. The hiring manager also seemed a bit scattered, as this looks like a new role on their team, and she ran out of questions during our hour-long chat, though she was nice otherwise. The team came across as disorganized, and the role's scope was pretty unclear. The position was actually pulled shortly after my interviews because they realized it was too much for a mid-level hire.

The interview process was efficient and easy to understand. The internal recruiter that I worked with was extremely professional and kept me informed throughout the entire process. This was honestly one of the best interviewing experiences I have ever had. The entire process took about two weeks and there was a series of four interviews, with the last one being in-person at their Chicago office. Overall, I had a pleasant and welcoming experience with all the individuals I interviewed with and the questions were thought provoking and well suited to the job position. Very impressed.

I was referred by an outside recruiter to an executive at Rewards Network, who then put me in touch with their Talent Acquisition (TA) specialist for the Director of Customer Operations role. My first call was a bit awkward because the TA seemed suspicious about my referral and was concerned about potential fees if they hired me, even though that wasn't the case. We ended up spending about 20 minutes of the interview discussing this, which made the meeting run longer than planned. The TA also wasn't clear on the budget for the position. When I shared my salary expectations, they commented that I was too high, suggesting there was a budget they weren't willing to disclose. Ultimately, they wanted me to speak with the hiring manager. This is where things got even more awkward. About two hours after our initial call, the TA texted me asking about my availability the next morning to speak with the hiring manager. Since it was already evening, I wouldn't have been able to prepare, so I suggested we find a time the following week. After a lot of back and forth, a video call was scheduled for the next Monday with the hiring manager. I joined the call five minutes early, but then when the manager joined, I was kicked out. When I tried to rejoin, it kept prompting me for my business login, which I didn't have (and my password didn't work). I texted the TA about the issue, and they didn't seem to believe me. The hiring manager insisted on a video call and refused a phone call, so after 15 minutes, we decided to reschedule. I asked the TA to ensure the login issues were resolved, sending them screenshots of my error messages. At the scheduled time for the rescheduled call, I still couldn't log in and received the same errors as before. This time, the hiring manager agreed to call me, and we had a conversation. They were clearly annoyed and I suspect they thought the issue was on my end. There was also a misunderstanding about the hybrid nature of the role; the TA admitted they expected this hire to be in the office more than the CEO's requirements for other people managers. After two calls and after-hours texting to set up the manager call, I was completely ghosted. I sent thank-you notes and a follow-up to the TA about a week after the manager call, but received no response. I understand the market is complicated and TAs are stretched thin, but this was such a negative experience that I wasn't disappointed about not receiving an offer.

I applied online through their website and then had an email exchange with the HR recruiter to set up the interview. The interview itself went well, and I thought it was a good potential fit for me. However, I haven't heard back since the interview. It's been two months, and despite reaching out, I've received no communication. While I understand not every applicant gets a response, ghosting candidates after an interview is unprofessional.