Scholastic Interview Questions
& Process

I had two interviews with Scholastic. The first person I spoke with was very friendly and had been with the company for over a decade. We had a great conversation, it felt natural and comfortable. The second interview was a bit more intense. It felt more like information was being thrown at me rather than a genuine, two-way conversation. The salary discussed was extremely low for the position. I asked if there was any room for negotiation, and while she asked what I was looking for, she couldn’t give me any clear numbers or percentages regarding commission or bonus structure, just vague answers. I never heard back after that interview. If they couldn’t match my current salary or didn’t think I was a good fit, it would’ve been nice to receive a follow-up email instead of being left waiting.

I applied in October and had an initial call with HR at the end of October. Then, I interviewed with the hiring manager via Zoom in December. They mentioned wanting to meet in person in early January, but after that, I never heard back. I kept checking in for updates, but they just gave me the runaround. Eventually, I was ghosted and only found out I wasn't being considered anymore on their workday portal in March. It was a ridiculous 5-month process that ended with nothing.

The interview process was upfront and communication was excellent throughout. Everyone I met was really passionate about literacy's mission and goals. It was a lengthy 3-month process with several interviews, but this was communicated from the start and all steps were disclosed. I was very impressed by how kind and passionate everyone was, especially for such a big company! I had to decline due to parental leave eligibility and hope they reconsider that policy. I would have been thrilled to work with such a supportive and collaborative team!

So possibly a waste of time but they are fast with responses. The first interview was through a company called Willo, similar to Hirevue. There were 5 questions and you record your answers, this can be done via phone or computer. A few days later I was contacted via phone by D who gave me a time and date he wanted to have the interview. Very informal, did not ask if it was a good time/day. Luckily I was available, so I just confirmed. A woman joined the call, L. The interview was about an hour long, mostly of me talking about my background and then they asked a few questions. How do I stay organized, what sales goals have I set for myself and how did I meet them, have I worked from home before? Similar to other interviews I have read on Glassdoor, they will sound really interested or impressed with your background and accomplishments, even praise you as if you are perfect for the role. When asked about company culture, it was very shallow, I couldn’t get an idea of the company values for their employees, only that they want to put books in kids hands. I was told you are expected to schedule 500 book fairs in a year. The day to day, he states you get 2 15min breaks and a 30 min lunch. This is heavily on the phones and you are expected to be on the phone consistently. Definitely seems like the right job for the right person. Didn’t feel like much of a work-life balance. Didn’t get the job via email the next morning.