Symetra Interview Questions
& Process

The interview opportunity came from a third-party recruiter. The first step was a 30-minute session with the hiring manager, who reviewed my resume and asked probing questions based on the bullet points. Unfortunately, the hiring manager took two weeks to give feedback to the recruiter, and they ended up hiring someone else through a different agency. This was a really poor process due to the delay in feedback.

The interview process included a first-round interviewer screening followed by a second round panel interview. All interviews were behavioral and pretty chill, nothing too crazy. The entire process took about a month. The people were nice and the interview process was smooth.

I was really excited to interview with Symetra because I'd been searching for a role that fit my skills and I'd heard great things about the company culture and values. I applied on 11/24. I spoke with the recruiter on 12/10, and they mentioned the hiring manager and some team members were unexpectedly out, which caused a delay. The interview went well, and I was told I'd hear back about the hiring manager interview by 12/20 at the latest. After not hearing anything, I followed up on 12/20. The original recruiter was out, but the backup recruiter responded on 12/23, saying they'd reached out to the hiring manager. Then, the original recruiter responded on 12/24 after returning, also stating they were waiting on the hiring manager. I followed up again on 12/31, 1/7, and 1/17, but received no response from the original recruiter. This experience has really soured my view of Symetra, and the recruiter's lack of communication reflects poorly on the company brand. It's important to keep candidates updated, even with bad news. Symetra's core values of doing what's right and dedication to excellence seem to have been overlooked in how I was treated as a potential candidate. As a hiring manager myself, I always follow up with candidates to show respect for their time.

The interview process was for a new, fully remote position. It consisted of 4 interviews, each lasting 30-45 minutes. The first was with a recruiter to assess experience, skills, and cultural fit. The second was with the hiring director. The third was with the team's AVP. The final interview was with the team, which was more relaxed and conversational, allowing me to show my personality and how I'd fit in. Although they said they'd decide the next week, I got an offer about an hour after the final interview. Making it to the team interview means you're likely a top candidate, so saying something unique is important. The process was thorough but refreshing, without the usual interview jitters, likely because everyone was genuinely nice, interested in me, and loved their jobs. The process moved quickly, taking about 3 weeks from interviews to hiring. After each interview, I was told they had to interview others, and I'd be contacted about moving forward, usually within 3 days to a week. Researching the company culture and values was crucial. They also emphasize DE&I, work-life balance, community involvement, and professional development, so mentioning these could be helpful. Use the STAR method for behavioral questions.