Wolfe Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process was a bit long, but it moved pretty quickly until the very end. I had to present my work in person in Pittsburgh. I waited 3 weeks for a final answer, and they said they added more candidates at the last minute, which was a turnoff after everything. I was selected for the job, and I didn't think there'd be any issues with a background check because I have a clean record and good work history. But then, 3 business days before my start date, after I'd already turned down another offer, started sorting out relocation, given notice to my current job, and negotiated to end my lease early, they rescinded the offer. They claimed it was due to my background check, with the only issue being an unverified employer that I actually had proof for. When I asked for more details, they were vague. The worst part was the lack of communication from the CEO, who I would have reported to. He didn't even have the courtesy to call me or respond to my attempts to understand what happened. The adverse notice only mentioned an employer verification and gave me 7 days to respond. I replied immediately with proof, but I got the rescission notice just two minutes after the 'pre-adverse action notice' was sent. Separately, they emailed me about a collections account on my credit report, with five people CC'd. This was from a really tough time in my life when my house burned down and my husband passed away, which is why my credit was affected and went to collections back then. Having to explain this publicly to five people was really embarrassing and an invasion of privacy. This company talks about having a caring culture, but this experience was the opposite – it was callous, rude, and cowardly. This job was supposed to help me get back on my feet after a difficult period. The CEO talks about understanding struggle, but I doubt he truly does. Maybe only struggles with a perfect credit score matter to him. This situation has really impacted my family and me because we were making plans for this transition. Looking at the company more, I might have dodged a bullet, but I was still embarrassed and felt suddenly irrelevant. They also mentioned something about card company compliances, which I'm familiar with from my previous role at a larger financial organization where I had to pass much tougher clearances. Basically, be careful. This was a painful experience because it was suddenly taken away without explanation, disrupting my plans and forcing me to change direction quickly. They handled it extremely poorly. I'm disappointed I was misled during the process, and the outcome was costly.

So first we had a chat with HR over the phone. Then, the hiring manager gave me a call/video call. After that, there was a culture interview to check if I'd fit with their values like Teamwork, Drive, Integrity, Caring, and now Excellence. Finally, I spoke with the owner or a C-level person.

It was a 4-round interview process that stretched over a month. The first round was meeting my supervisor, the second was meeting my potential team, the third was a meeting with the CEO, and the fourth involved meeting various team members to assess culture fit. There were several red flags throughout the process, but the most significant was a bait-and-switch tactic. The entire process, including the offer letter, was for a director role. However, after negotiations, they downgraded it to a manager level, stating that even if I accepted and was hired, they would reduce my title to a lower tier, citing 'internal title reorg' revisions. While ethics and integrity in communication are crucial, they were notably absent at the very end. Doors close for a reason, and I'm glad this one did.

Scheduling was easy and timing worked out, but from the start, it felt like the interview was something done within a time crunch which is a rough first impression. The first round was very general, asking about past experiences and things of that nature. What struck me as a reason to leave feedback is the way the interview played out. The company was looking for someone who could provide in-house media content, yet they didn't ask for any past examples of work. Even when I explained I was willing to provide, I was told it wasn't necessary. This is overall strange, considering the interview went well. Yet I was still faced with an automated "moving on" email about a week after interviewing. I have seen a few other reviews saying position titles were a bait and switch. I think this may be another case just because it is strange to not ask for a portfolio for a job requirement that is presented as being at least 80% of your work.