Viral Launch Interview Questions
& Process

Recruiter reached out, had some really long detailed phone calls, lots of tedious tasks, and self-reporting on past jobs, plus personality tests. Took me weeks and hours to get through. Seemed like too much. Then met with the recruiter in person at a hotel lobby, which was pretty much the same. Had one meeting with senior management: the head guy seemed really annoyed, kind of rude and dismissive, like he had way better things to do. He just rapid-fired questions at me in a loud public place. It ended really fast. Nobody contacted me for over a week. Most unusual interview ever. Makes you wonder how they treat their staff. Good way to find out their likely employee treatment.

The interview process was very quick and efficient, without a lot of red tape. They seem to assess candidates differently based on their potential to make an impact, rather than making everyone go through the same hoops. I felt like I was fast-tracked because they saw my potential. HR was great at keeping me informed about what was next and what I needed to do. Each interview after the first felt unique, with different people and video calls. I didn't have to repeat myself as much, and we could focus on aligning my background with what the interviewers were looking for. My master's thesis was on recommendation systems for online marketplaces, and my undergrad research was on behavioral game theory for sellers. So, discussing future company strategies with the chief data scientist felt natural, like something I'd already explored in research and my free time. It was a smooth conversation based mostly on recall. They avoided generic behavioral questions because they want data scientists to be autonomous and innovative. Their approach was more like a west-coast, free-thinking style where you brainstorm ideas to see what resonates, rather than a stuffy, bureaucratic process of slow adaptation.

The interview process was really smooth and easygoing. The Talent VP was super responsive and quick, which was great. First, we had a phone interview to go over my application. He was really flexible with the timing and very professional but also friendly, making me feel comfortable. During the onsite, we first met in a conference room. Then, he introduced me to the VP I'd be reporting to for a chat, and after that, to another team member. Both conversations went really well; they were both nice and knew their stuff. After the interviews, the VP of Talent gave me a tour of the office, which is a really cool space. He followed up with me in under a week.

I did a phone screen and then an in-person interview with the VP of Talent. He was extremely rude. He was not paying attention, often interrupted my answers, and seemed to be toying with his watch. His answers to the questions I asked were generic and underwhelming. I declined to move forward because I did not get a good feeling from this interview. Their actions don't match what they say their culture is.