Toast Inc Sales Representative Interview Questions
& Process

So, if you're thinking about applying for an AE position at Toast, just a heads-up: grab a notepad because you'll probably need it to figure out what kind of 'process' they're even following. After I went through several rounds where everyone seemed to really like me, the person doing the final interview somehow missed a crucial step they had asked for. Then, they insisted on another whole round. Instead of admitting their mistake, they got defensive and acted like I should be thankful for the mess. They spent most of the time puffing up their ego, which didn't really fit the role or how clearly they communicated. One minute they're talking about an SMB role, the next they're unsure what they're even looking for. So, alignment? Not important, apparently. Consistency? Up to them, I guess. Accountability? Never heard of it. It's pretty clear this isn't just a one-time thing – this company seems lost, and the leadership cares more about saving face than creating a clear hiring process or a solid vision. If this is how they treat candidates, I can't even imagine what the internal culture is like. If you care about your time, clear communication, or working with competent adults, I'd seriously avoid this unprofessional disaster.

So I applied and a recruiter reached out to schedule an initial call. They sent a link to pick a time, and after I picked one, it was confirmed. The recruiter's screen was super generic, like they were just reading off a list of common questions, and they seemed really uninterested, just moving from one to the next. They ended by saying they'd let me know about next steps. A bit later, they emailed to say the hiring manager wanted to talk. Scheduling was the same process as before, and I spoke with the hiring manager that same week. That call was pretty casual, felt like more of a vibe check. Again, the call ended with me being told my recruiter would be in touch. Later that week, the recruiter emailed again saying they wanted me to continue, and I had to schedule another, more formal call with the hiring manager. After scheduling that, I was then told I needed to create and present a project, which felt like unpaid consulting work. From the first hiring manager call until this point, the recruiter was really communicative, checking in about how I felt about the call and the project. For my second hiring manager round, I presented the project and got feedback, which was mostly positive. They gave me some suggestions for small changes to present to someone higher up in sales, and my recruiter would be in touch with next steps. That's when the recruiter just ghosted. No follow-up, nothing about next steps. By the end of the week, I got a standard rejection email. Honestly, I felt it was a waste of my time and unprofessional to ghost me after all that, and then to expect me to do work that would normally be paid if I had the job just for an interview. If you're asked to create a project plan for Toast, I'd recommend watermarking it or using a timed file-sharing service so they can't use your unpaid consulting work.

It took 3 weeks from the initial selection to the recruiter call, and then another 3 weeks for the rest of the process. I had to turn down another job offer during this time, which was a big risk, but I'm really glad it worked out. The people interviewing me were all very engaging and good listeners. They were open about what they liked about their jobs and what could be better, and they gave me helpful tips on how to improve their assignments, which were quite long. I put in over 10 hours on the interviews and homework, and there was a bit of confusion between interviewers, but overall, it was the best interview experience I've had.