Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, inc. Interview Questions
& Process

The interview was a phone call and felt really friendly. It lasted about half an hour. It was mostly a Q&A, and overall it was a good experience. I got to talk about what I was interested in regarding the firm and what I hoped to get out of the role.

It started with a phone call with a recruiter from corporate, then a phone interview with the hiring manager. After that, I had to submit a writing sample. The next step was a half-day visit to the office where I had interviews with my potential superiors (which included some technical questions to check my expertise and how I communicate) and also with my peers to see if I would be a good cultural fit. This was followed by a lunch presentation, and then finally we got to the offer negotiation part.

Flew to Austin for an interview. Met with the team, had a meal and professional conversation. They offered $27/hr with no relocation or OT guarantee, despite my 20+ years of experience. Benefits included 2 weeks PTO and standard 401k match. The salary was insufficient for Austin housing costs. HR promised travel reimbursement but only sent $300 despite over $1400 in expenses. Later, I accepted a role in Chicago for $70k plus a $25k relocation package and better benefits like 4 weeks PTO.

I applied online and about a month later, I had two hour-long phone interviews over a couple of weeks. The first was with HR and the second was with a senior chemist. This job is with a small team that doesn't hire often. They were looking for someone entry-level to learn the ropes and eventually move into a project manager role, so they really cared about how I'd fit in. Both chats were nice, especially the HR person, who was great at interviewing. A bit over a month after the second phone chat, I got called in for an onsite. I met with around 7 people, mostly in 45-minute one-on-one meetings, and I also gave a lunchtime seminar. Most folks were super friendly, but one person was unbelievably rude. It felt like they'd already made up their mind before even meeting me and didn't want to talk to me, let alone hire me. They asked really pointed questions, and most of my answers were met with condescension and put-downs. Even if they weren't going to hire me, they could have at least been professional. Plus, they swore a lot, which was really unprofessional, even if it wasn't directed at me. I liked meeting almost everyone, but that one person really soured the whole experience for me.