Steuben Foods Interview Questions
& Process

I was told travel would be reimbursed, but the journey involved a redeye with a layover, leaving me exhausted. The hotel was nice, though the location was remote. At the company headquarters, I was asked to wait in a very cold reception area, and despite requesting a warmer spot, I was then asked to provide references and complete a paper application, even though I had already submitted one online. Like many frustrating recruitment processes, I interviewed with everyone from lab technicians to directors for a long time. The managers highlighted their patent history and seemed eager to find fault. During a tour of the lab, I noticed a lack of significant, actively used instrumentation, suggesting a lack of innovation despite claims otherwise. One mid-level employee, clearly having a bad day, became defensive when asked about their vision for a food science game-changer, stating that I shouldn't think that way and should just focus on the data. At the end, I was informed that I would need to provide at least 15 references, which struck me as an unreasonable hazing ritual. Although I connected with two individuals who seemed genuinely interested in driving innovation, I was ultimately ghosted. My emails requesting reimbursement for Uber rides were ignored. Given the overall experience, I cannot recommend this interview process, especially considering the redeye flight.

So first you have an in person chat with HR and then two of the supervisors from the department. Then, after they decide they like you, you gotta do a drug test, background check, and a physical fitness test before they can hire you.

The interviewer, who identified herself as the hiring manager (though not the direct reporting manager), seemed to take issue with me asking clarifying questions, stating she was 'sensing attitude.' The entire Teams interview was very short, only 10 minutes. When I asked about needing to work over 40 hours at the 24/7 food facility, inquiring about reasons for coming in early or staying late, she vaguely mentioned 'projects' without details. I expressed a need for more insight from the hiring manager, which led to the confusion about her role. She then stated she was 'sensing some attitude' again and that she passes notes to the actual boss. Despite my explanation, she clearly wasn't going to give a good review. The conversation moved to salary, where my expectation of a 20% increase due to my supply chain experience was outside their 58k-65k range. I pointed out the range seemed low for a role requiring both supply and demand planning experience, suggesting it was more entry-level. After some back-and-forth, she stated they couldn't negotiate. I declined to proceed, and she ended the call abruptly after I mentioned it didn't seem like she wanted to talk to me. She was unprofessional and accused me of being rude when I was simply asking questions. I tried to maintain composure, but the accusations were unhelpful, and her interviewing skills seemed poor. This company has negative reviews, uncompetitive pay, and a tendency to overwork employees, which I already earn 50% more than, and I only cover one supply chain function. It felt like she dismissed me immediately.

The whole thing took about 3 months and included a reference check. It started with an initial interview with a consultant, which was pretty standard. About a month later, I had an onsite interview with a consultant and the President. They said HR would call within a week. Two to three weeks after that, HR called for references. One of my references had trouble reaching the contact. After that, it was just a lot of uncertainty about the next steps. I even offered multiple times to accept that they had found someone else, but they just went silent. I should have realized something was up when they mentioned that all the marketing hires before me hadn't worked out for different reasons. I enjoyed everything until the offer stage. It's not that complicated - just give a clear answer, yes or no!