Salas O'Brien Interview Questions
& Process

I interviewed for a commissioning agent position in Quebec. The company expects 12-hour workdays, 6 days a week. They asked if I owned a car for client site visits, but didn't mention a company car or assistance. It's not an hourly role, suggesting long hours without overtime pay. They say they're employee-owned, but private equity recently invested. The HR person and interviewing manager were in the same session. I ended the interview after 15 minutes due to potential labor law violations for such a role in Quebec. It seems like a miserable place to work.

I interviewed with two engineering managers. One of them explained the role and company background. We had a really nice conversation. After the interview, I got a tour of the workspace and was told to wait to hear from HR. HR then sent me an assessment, and that was the end of the process. They ended up focusing on hiring experienced associates instead of new graduates, so I didn't get the position.

I got contacted really fast after applying and had 2 interviews in just one week. Both were with directors, not recruiters, and they seemed to go really well! They clearly liked me, and with my experience, I was sure I had the job in the bag. I was super excited about everything I'd heard about the company. It seems like a great place to work. After a week with no news, I followed up and was told they were still deciding but would make a choice soon and I'd hear back in a few days. Still nothing... I followed up again, and no response. It doesn't matter how busy you are, not responding is just bad business. I could have found out I didn't get the job and still been professional and cheered on the company's success, but being ignored and ghosted is really disappointing. I saw reviews on Glassdoor before applying about people not getting follow-ups, but since the company said that wasn't their style and unacceptable, I hoped it wouldn't happen to me. I don't like leaving bad reviews, I usually give people the benefit of the doubt, but since I'm not the first, I'm sharing my experience.

I applied online and heard back from the recruiter pretty quickly. We had a short phone call where the recruiter explained the role really well. After that, I had a Teams interview with the hiring manager, and they brought in my potential direct report at the end, which was a nice touch. Then I interviewed in person with the CFO, and we had a good chat about my skills and if I'd like the work. Lastly, I met with the office's Managing Principal to talk about my background and the company's history. The whole thing was super smooth and clear, with everyone sticking to the timelines. I'm really excited to join Salas O'Brien!