Sotheby's Manager Interview Questions
& Process

I interviewed with Sotheby’s in May, and while I was initially very excited about the opportunity, the process turned out to be extremely long and disorganized. There were long stretches, sometimes three weeks or more, where I wouldn’t hear a single update, and then communication would suddenly resume out of nowhere. After an assignment and a few more rounds of interviews, there were no updates for about a month and a half. In August, I was told that things were moving forward and that I could expect paperwork in September. Naturally, I followed up a week after that timeframe, only to be met with complete silence. It’s now been about two months with no response, so I think it’s safe to say that the process ended without closure. While I understand that hiring can take time, I think the lack of communication and follow-through is extremely disappointing, especially after being told to expect paperwork to come through. It feels careless in this job market, where candidates invest real time and hope into these opportunities. All of the people I interviewed with were lovely. My advice to anyone considering applying is: don’t take the process too personally and definitely don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Even if things seem to be moving forward, be prepared for delays, or, unfortunately, to be ghosted.

It was a pretty simple interview process. First round, they asked me some basic questions. Then there were more interviews where I had to tackle a problem (like a budget or a deal) and explain how I'd solve it.

On the surface, this process is more about your network than your qualifications or experience. This is typical for the art industry. However, it offers amazing opportunities, especially in a growing market like Hong Kong.