TCW Interview Questions
& Process

The hiring process at TCW (LA Office) was really smooth and took about four weeks from start to offer. HR was great, keeping me in the loop about scheduling and interview info, and always got back to me quickly. It started with an HR screening, then two video interviews with senior managers, and finished with an onsite team interview. They were super flexible with scheduling everything. I even got the offer just three hours after we talked about salary. The first day was good too, with orientation covering everything and even pointing out places to eat nearby. Honestly, it was the most professional and easiest hiring experience I've ever had.

I went through 4 interviews which took over 10 hours in total and spanned 3 months. The company was really unresponsive and tough to get in touch with, and even setting up the first call took around 3 weeks because they kept canceling or responding to my availability emails days after the slots had passed. I had a good experience with the actual team who seemed busy, but for the last round, they brought in people from outside the team. A few interviewers said they didn't really know why they were there and didn't have much to add. I did ask about diversity and inclusion, but they said it was a work in progress with not much happening. After the whole 10-hour ordeal, I tried following up multiple times but never heard back. Maybe that's normal for them, but I at least expected some kind of response saying they went with someone else. It was a really disappointing and demotivating experience.

I submitted my application via LinkedIn and heard back for a phone interview within about a week. My first chat was with Tashina, a recruiter, who was super friendly and made me feel really comfortable. It wasn't like a stiff interview at all; we just talked about the job and my background. The whole hiring process spanned a couple of months, a bit longer because of the holidays and that crazy weather in L.A. with the fires. But honestly, I appreciated that they kept me in the loop with updates. Tashina set up more chats with other people on the team, and everyone was so warm and welcoming. It really felt like we were just having good career conversations to see if it was a good fit for both me and TCW, rather than a formal interview. When I got the offer, Tashina was really clear about everything – benefits, pay, parking, all the important stuff. She gave me all the info I needed to decide, and the whole thing was pretty smooth and organized.

The interview was arranged through campus career services and held on campus. It lasted about 30-45 minutes. I was asked to walk through my resume, explain my interest in the industry and this specific company, and how my previous job prepared me for this role. They also asked why I'm pursuing an MBA at this time. I had to pitch a stock, and be ready to defend my choice against potential challenges. I also submitted my tear sheet and supporting calculations.