Robert Walters Associate Interview Questions
& Process

I first sent in my resume to Robert Walters for a different industry, but they reached out to see if I'd work for them instead. I was open to learning more, and the next day I had a phone interview. This call focused on whether I was more business-minded (focused on revenue) or customer-minded. A strange question for me was why I wanted to work for them, as they had contacted me. Luckily, I had done my research and gave a good answer. Then, I was invited to a meet and greet with managers at their Shibuya office during a networking reception. The reception had lots of young professionals, mostly from Asia, along with some Westerners and students. The dress code was business smart, and everyone was fully suited. We got a quick overview of Robert Walters and recruitment, presented enthusiastically by two managers, clearly aiming to excite us about working there. After the presentation, there was networking time. More managers joined, and I spoke with all of them and most other candidates. Many candidates seemed passive, while others made connections. The managers made an effort to speak with everyone. During these chats, managers asked questions about our profiles to help us stand out. One manager was a bit disappointing; he brought up my resume, joking it was odd for a recruitment job, even though they had recruited me from their database. I had prepared a tailored resume, but they said it wasn't needed. He then sort of ridiculed me for it. I sent a thank you email the next day but got no response. When I followed up, I received a vague message saying I was a good candidate, but they had many good options and had to make tough choices. I never heard back and don't know if I'm still in their database. I've heard of people hired straight out of college with no relevant experience. My skills were relevant, so the rejection reasons are unclear. I thought I'd at least get a 1-on-1 interview. I suspect there was miscommunication about how I got interested, or maybe I was just invited to meet an HR target. Or perhaps there were just too many brilliant candidates, or I presented poorly. It feels like a mix of these, and I'll never know for sure. Overall, it seems like a good company that rewards hard work, but they should be more transparent with candidates.

First, I had a phone call with the recruiter. Then, I had a panel interview which included the hiring manager. They asked me about my experience and if I could handle pressure. Finally, I had another round with HR to discuss my career goals.

The interview process was straightforward and well-organized, ensuring each interviewer focused on specific areas to gain a comprehensive understanding of the candidate. I went through a total of 7 interviews, and I know someone else who had up to 12.