SchooLinks Customer Success Manager Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process started with a 20-minute call with the recruiter, who seemed uninterested. Then, I had to complete a digital assessment, which was the most bizarre thing I've encountered in the EdTech industry. It involved watching a 60-minute product demo video, for which I took extensive notes (over 6 pages). Immediately after, I had to take an eight-page pop quiz on the video's content within 30 minutes, which was barely enough time to even watch the video. I'm not a great test-taker, and the 30 seconds between the video and the test weren't enough to process all the information, especially my notes. I failed the test and was rejected a week later. For an education company, they didn't accommodate different learning styles; instead, I felt pressured to know details about a product I'd never used. It felt unreasonable and lacked empathy for learning styles that need preparation before testing. Even my college professors allowed study time. The whole experience left me feeling embarrassed, gaslit, and confused. Given the negative reviews from former employees, I might have dodged a bullet. Good luck, SchooLinks.

The first step was a 30 minute screener. Then a 30 minute video call with the CFO/hiring manager, with typical CSM questions. After that, there was a 90 minute exercise involving a 60 minute video and a 30 minute quiz to learn the product. Finally, a 30 minute video call with the CEO, during which she spent about 15 minutes discussing negative Glassdoor reviews and criticizing past employees, particularly former teachers new to the edtech industry, suggesting a misalignment with the startup's profit-driven approach and authoritarian structure. I received an offer significantly below the industry average for an experienced CSM, which was slightly improved after negotiation. The PTO offered was also below standard. Despite these concerns, I accepted due to the market, but I rescinded the offer after receiving internal system access before my start date and discovering two concerning policies in the handbook: no employee privacy and the manager's right to access employee cell phone records for usage checks, which seemed illegal and indicative of a 'livestock' management style.

So I had three interviews. First was with the Director of Product, then the CFO, and finally the CEO. Oh, and before I talked to the CEO, I had to do this 1.5-hour task and test, where I got a 92%. The interviews themselves were pretty chill, not too intense, and they asked stuff to see if I had the right skills. I think they all went pretty well, even the CEO chat. I felt like I connected with everyone. They said I'd hear back by the end of the week, but nope, total radio silence. Super frustrating after putting in all that time, especially with the task and multiple rounds. This company doesn't even have an HR person, so there was no real point person, which made it feel really disorganized.