SolarCity Recruiter Interview Questions
& Process

I started with a phone screen with Alex, who was really informative. He gave me a lot of background on the position and I could ask him questions. He also clearly set expectations for the role and the rest of the interview process. Then I had another phone screen with the manager I would report to. This was mainly to see what kind of person I was and how I'd fit in. It felt really welcoming to discuss the type of worker I am and if it was a good match. After those two phone screens, I had three in-person interviews back-to-back with other managers in the department. All interviews are nerve-wracking, and this was no exception, but after all three, I really got a feel for the team and what it would be like to be part of it. I understood the role and its demands. I've never left an interview feeling like I was already on the team or felt more welcome to join. Everyone was super pleasant.

I interviewed with SolarCity a couple of years ago. The job I applied for then wasn't the best fit, but the experience was so good that SolarCity became my top choice for employment. It's the only place I've ever interviewed where everyone, no matter their position, is completely aligned on the company's mission: delivering clean energy and contributing to a better world. When I saw a new opening, I contacted a recruiter I'd spoken with before. She connected me with a recruiting hiring manager. I had about three or four phone interviews over two days, and then I was extended an offer and started just 10 days later. SolarCity operates incredibly quickly; they call it the Solar Coaster for a reason!

I had a very strange and disjointed interview process with this company. They presented themselves as an innovative tech company, often mentioning Elon Musk and positioning themselves within the tech industry. However, upon further inquiry, it became clear they are primarily a retail sales and construction company that hires a large number of door-to-door sales people and installers, often recruiting from places like Sears. It's puzzling why they would target tech recruiters given their low-tech operations. When I started asking specific questions about the role, they became quite defensive. Overall, it was not a great experience.