USA TODAY Co. Interview Questions
& Process

I applied for the Sr. AI Learning & Enablement Manager role and heard back from the recruiting manager a week later. They sent an email stating I was a strong candidate and asked me to answer some questions to help them understand my situation and goals, framing it as an early-stage dialogue. I spent a lot of time answering these questions, which felt like an interview in themselves. A week after that, I received a rejection through Workday with no further contact. It seems they used the questionnaire as a pre-screening tool instead of a way to prepare for a deeper conversation, which I found unprofessional and a waste of time given the current job market. The process should be transparent about how much time to dedicate to such questionnaires.

I was contacted stating I was a strong candidate and then asked to complete a questionnaire to learn more about my experience, salary expectations, and interest in the position, and to detail professional experiences relevant to the role. There were also 3 scenario-based questions asked, but the context was vague. I never had any phone interaction with the recruiter, all communication was via email, only to receive a templated rejection email from Dayforce. No acknowledgment of the time spent on the questionnaire. I found this screening process impersonal and lacking human touch.

Lori L, the recruiter, contacted me about my application. I have to say this was the worst and most unprofessional interviewing experience of my career. She called and immediately stated, "The salary for this position is 50k, so if you're not interested, goodbye. Sorry for wasting your time." It was unexpected, happening seconds into the call, but my sales instincts kicked in, and I saw it as a chance to show my skills in objection handling and negotiation. I had to call her out on her rude and unprofessional behavior, saying, "Do you just not want to interview me, Lori?" The questions were basic, like "Why are you looking for another job?" and "What did you do in your previous role?" It felt like I was forcing her to stay on the phone. If you applied for multiple roles, make sure to confirm which one they're calling about, as they don't clarify until the interview day. They also ghost you after the interview. Major red flags!

I applied online and got contacted within a week to set up an initial phone screening. The recruiter was nice and explained the role and next steps clearly. The interview had two parts: a behavioral one and a technical one. The interviewers were easy to talk to and made me feel comfortable. They asked good questions related to the job, and I got to show off my skills. I also liked that they were open about the timeline and what's coming next. I got feedback quickly, showing they respect our time. It was a great experience, and I'd probably apply again even if I don't get this job.