TINYpulse Interview Questions
& Process

It was a typical interview process for a smaller software company in Seattle, but it felt like too many people were involved. First, I chatted with the recruiter, then with the manager. After that, we did a values exercise about why I wanted to join the company and how I delight customers. Then, there was a two-hour video loop with four people from different departments, followed by a presentation. The loop felt a bit off, with some interviewers being too guarded and losing sight of good candidates. The recruiter's feedback seemed disconnected from my actual conversations, and they mentioned that the company's high turnover rate is starting to hurt its reputation. Some interviewers in the loop acted like they hadn't even read my values exercise responses. The hiring manager seems fine, but if you enjoy having multiple meetings weekly where your boss critiques every single call and action, this job is for you. Sales roles usually require independence and a focus on selling, not constant meeting room sessions dissecting calls. Two friends had similar experiences here recently, feeling there were too many opinions and cooks in the kitchen, especially at the Director level, with people deciding who is 'good enough' to join them. They should focus on hiring good people instead of overthinking it.

So, I applied online and a recruiter reached out. The interview process was a bit different from usual. They had me come in for a 1-hour on-site interview with two hiring managers *before* any phone screen. I guess they're trying a new strategy for multiple openings. The recruiter I met was super nice, and so were the two people who interviewed me. I was told I'd hear back by the end of the week (interview was Thursday afternoon), but it's been two weeks and still nothing. I sent a follow-up email, but no response, which is pretty unprofessional. They should at least let candidates know, especially after asking them to travel for an interview. The interview itself had two 30-minute sessions with different sales leaders, and the questions weren't weird or super hard.

The hiring process kicked off with a 30-minute HR phone screening that covered standard interview questions. Following that, I had a call with the hiring manager, which unfortunately didn't go well. He was distracted, taking a walk and greeting people he knew, making it hard to tell if he was even listening. He also mentioned that other candidates had way more experience than the job posting required, though that wasn't a personal issue for me. Despite the weirdness, he said he'd move me forward. The next task involved reviewing over two hours of sales calls and giving coaching feedback, plus a "personality evaluation" where I had to write about TINYpulse's values. I put a lot of effort into my response, and again, I was told I'd proceed. The subsequent step was an in-person interview at TINYpulse HQ, about 45 minutes long, with no other details given. I rearranged my work schedule for it. When I arrived, the hiring manager surprised me by saying I'd need to give a 45-minute presentation to representatives from all departments about my action plan for the role, something that was never mentioned before. He seemed to think I should have come prepared. Even though I was caught off guard, I offered to do it on the spot or reschedule to prepare. We agreed I'd reschedule for the next day to give me time to prepare fully, like other candidates. I asked for a quick chat while I was there, and we walked around the block to discuss things. I went straight to work on the presentation for the next day. I didn't hear anything by the next day, so I called and was told it couldn't happen that day. We rescheduled for a little over a week later. A few days before that, I emailed HR and the hiring manager to confirm the new date, but got no response. Two weeks later, I got a generic email saying they chose another candidate. It was the most disorganized process I've experienced, making me question the company's ability to collaborate. I feel like I dodged a bullet, despite liking their product and wanting to contribute.

I applied online and then got an email for a screening. After that, I went in for in-person screening interviews. Once I passed those, I got a homework assignment. We then had to present this assignment to the CEO, CPO, and other key team members. It was a positive experience, and I felt respected throughout. The CPO and CEO are focused and I like them a lot.