Ryan Interview Questions
& Process

This was one of the least professional interview processes I've been through. The recruiter didn't share much about the job or company, or what to expect. They even called a session a "workshop Q&A" that turned out to be a surprise live design exercise. That lack of openness really set the tone. The first panel interview was also not well-run. The main interviewer seemed unprepared, didn't know basic things about my background, and was kind of snarky, asking stuff like "What do we do?" instead of having a real discussion. Instead of owning it, they passed it off to a new hire who had only been there two months. A third person on the panel was checked out, kept dropping in and out with their camera off. For a senior design job, I expected a more organized, respectful, and professional experience. Instead, it felt messy, dismissive, and misleading. Based on this, I wouldn't suggest applying until they really improve their hiring and interview process.

There were three rounds: first a recruiter screen, then a manager/leader + panel interview, and finally a "live demo" presentation to a Leader and their team. The first two rounds were professional and well-structured, but things fell apart at the end. I had zero notice on the final deliverable. The day before the demo, at 5:12 p.m., I got a scenario document. I had asked for the scenario document the week before and got no reply. The recruiter lied about the lead time, then claimed it was fair for all candidates to get the case at the same time. The panel agreed the scenario should have been sent earlier. The recruiter then gas-lighted me with a follow-up claim in writing.

The process started with a recruiter reaching out through Handshake after I applied. Then there was an interview with the Hiring Manager, which was really friendly and I felt comfortable sharing my background without being stressed; they seemed keen for me to perform well. The next step was a Principal Interview, which focused more on culture and understanding my needs. I got a clear picture of the firm's priorities, and they were upfront about everything. They also put a lot of emphasis on employee wellness and discussed benefits. The whole thing took about three weeks.

The interview process starts with an initial discussion with the head of operations and some current staff. If that seems to go well, you'll be given two assignments: an Excel-based task (a Commercial Model Exercise) and a task involving formatting and processing information (summarizing a project proposal's details and goals). If you do well on these, you'll have a final interview with the head of operations and team leaders. I finished all three parts and expected to hear back the next week like they said. But I never got any word back, even after following up. It's unprofessional and disrespectful to candidates who put in time and effort, especially when it's easy to use templates and follow standard procedures. Getting ghosted after an interview is just not acceptable in today's professional world. It shows poor organization and a lack of basic respect for candidates and potential future employees.