Valdes Architecture & Engineering Interview Questions
& Process

I had 2 calls with HR. They didn't ask if I had questions and had an entitled attitude. They didn't know anything about the industry or the job and refused to give a pay range. What they said was different from the job posting (responsibilities and travel). The second HR person was worse and made me think of negative reviews. She didn't like the pay range question and said they'd decide my worth after the meeting. This felt like a red flag. The same day, I got invited to a video call with managers a few days later for 2 hours. Before that, I had to fill out an old-school personal info form (addresses, work history), which I refused since my resume has all that. I cancelled my interview via email right away because it seemed like a toxic, controlling place. HR was too pushy and I didn't like the interactions. Then they called me 3-4 times asking why I changed my mind. This place screams TOXIC.

Had a chill chat with the hiring manager for the department. They asked some basic stuff and mostly wanted to see if I'd vibe with the team and company culture. The HR phone screen was super fast.

It was a three level interview process. They asked technical and behavior questions. General questions were asked like how to start a project, the level of a project and other things related to sizing and spec'ing instruments. They asked about flow meters, pressure drop importance, and control valves.

The initial interview was mostly behavioral and cultural fit, not too deep on technical stuff. I spoke with the current Director, HR Business Partner, Talent Manager, and the President. They all gave great feedback, and the President thought I'd be a good addition. After waiting four weeks, I had a second interview with the same people plus the VP of Operations. I got to share more technical details, and again, the feedback was super positive. The President reiterated I'd be a great fit with no reservations. The next week, I was asked for references, which I provided. A week later, I checked with my references and they hadn't been contacted. Then they called to offer me a Manager position, not the leadership Director role I interviewed for, without a bonus and with extra conditions. Two days later, they pulled the Manager offer, said they were downgrading the role to 'Specialist,' and filling it internally. They kept stressing how crucial this customer-facing role was and that they needed someone highly experienced and credentialed, which I am. Super unprofessional. They never even checked my references. I should have paid attention to the company reviews before interviewing.