Volume Nine Interview Questions
& Process

So the whole application and interview process had a few steps and they were super clear from the start, which I appreciated. My application reply said: We get asked this a lot, so here's a quick rundown of our hiring process: Step 1: We'll review applications to see if candidates meet the basic requirements. Step 2: If you move on, we'll ask you to do a super short questionnaire. Step 3: We'll review your questionnaire & resume and ask for a video and anything else you want to send. Step 4: Our best candidates will then do a 1-hour interview (we're planning on 5 total interviews for this stage). Step 5: The last step is asking our top candidate(s) to create an initial 90-day success plan and set goals for themselves if they get hired. They also gave tips on how to stand out since they get over 500 applications per role. From my experience, it went like this... 1. Sent in my application and resume (standard stuff!). If I passed that... 2. Filled out a short questionnaire. It was just a few questions and, in their words, to make sure you're not AI and not using AI for your application. Took less than 10 minutes. If I passed that... 3. Recorded and sent a video (3 minutes or less) to help them “get to know me and why they should hire me”. If I passed that... 4. Had a virtual interview with actual people. I interviewed with the CEO and VP since they've been the main drivers of their sales, and this role was created to take sales tasks off their plates, especially the CEO's. I thought the interview flowed well and everything went smoothly. They asked about the job and my past experience. I really felt like I was being interviewed, not just generically, which made me feel like a serious candidate and that they really took their time. If I passed that... 5. 90-day success plan. After the interview, I was asked to draft a 90-day plan for how I’d be successful in this new role and what my goals would be.

The hiring process involved submitting an application, followed by a 30-minute chat with HR. Then, there was an unpaid work sample task. After that, I interviewed with the CEO, and finally, with the hiring manager and the team. It felt like the process dragged on too long, especially considering the salary wasn't great. The unpaid audit of a new client's digital presence before meeting the CEO felt pretty wrong.

I thought this would be promising because the CEO reached out and I completed a written assessment. The phone screen also went well. Then I was told they chose other candidates. That was fine, but after I communicated with the CEO about freelance opportunities, I heard nothing back. This company has a recruiting problem. Why show interest and then ignore candidates? Why get scared when I ask questions to ensure this is a good long-term fit? Companies should be able to defend their track record and show pride. I'm tired of courtesy interviews and companies that say one thing and do another. I'm holding companies accountable. This is to help you improve your process. Treat candidates with respect. It's a two-way street. Transparency and honesty are key. I gave feedback to another company via email and they took it seriously and apologized, so I'm documenting my experiences.

The interview process was great overall. It does take quite a bit of time, but I never felt like I was waiting around for a response. There are three steps, a questionnaire, a call, and then an in-person interview. Volume Nine was clear from the start that the interview process is not short, as they are trying to find the best fit for them and take additional steps to do so, which I really appreciated. The questionnaire gave me a good understanding of the depth and breadth of knowledge that Volume Nine was looking for. It was about 20 short answer questions. The call was great with the People Department after that. Super laid back and easy going. Lastly, the in-person meeting was with the President and the Account Director and was also very relaxed. They were both very cognizant of my time. A few days later, I was asked to provide three references and I received a formal offer letter shortly after.