Upstream USA Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process had 3 rounds. I started with a phone screening, then had a call with the manager, and finally, a session with a team member where I did a mock presentation for a "practice". It was pretty straightforward. The whole process took about a month and a half because they had a company retreat and conference happening around that time.

I applied for this role in 2022 and didn't hear back. A year later, a recruiter reached out and asked if I was still interested as I was a strong candidate. I said yes and we set up a phone screening. The phone call went great. I was able to schedule a second interview with the hiring manager within an hour of hanging up. The day of the 45-minute Zoom call with the hiring manager, I received an email stating they wouldn’t be on camera due to Wi-Fi issues. I was prepared so I proceeded as planned. The conversation went very well with really great questions on both sides. At the end, they stated what next steps were and that I’d hear from the recruiter in the coming days. I sent both the recruiter and hiring manager a thank-you note expressing my interest, excitement, and gratitude for the opportunity to join the company. The following week I received an email stating they will not move forward with my application. I responded by sharing my disappointment but also thanking them for their time. I asked for feedback in the hopes to get some clarity. The recruiter responded asking we stay in touch for future opportunities and nothing else.

I applied for the PSS position first. I had a chat with the recruiter, then did a writing sample, followed by interviews with the hiring manager and a VP. After about two months, they told me they weren't sure what they were looking for and paused the hiring for that role. They suggested I apply for the External Affairs job instead. For that, I interviewed with the team, did another writing assignment, and then interviewed with the hiring manager. That also ended with them saying they wouldn't hire anyone until the new year. The whole thing took about 3 months.

The interview process began positively. About two weeks after applying, I received a call for an initial HR phone screen. The recruiter was very friendly and discussed my resume and career aspirations in detail. However, I was surprised to learn the role wouldn't start for at least 5-6 months, and even that start date was uncertain. After a few more weeks, I was informed I'd advance to the next stage: a Zoom meeting with the hiring manager. His assistant was supposed to schedule it. I was told the interview would be the second week of February. The week before, I followed up since I hadn't received a scheduled time. The Zoom meeting seemed okay, but I got the impression the manager was preoccupied. He mentioned how many people he was hiring, and I made sure to emphasize my strong interest in the position. He indicated I'd hear back in 2-3 weeks, but I never did. I sent emails to everyone I had contact information for, but received no replies. I felt very disrespected, as if the time I spent preparing and adjusting my schedule was all for nothing.