Zenefits Account Manager Interview Questions
& Process

The Zenefits interview process feels very automated, like a sudden death situation where one wrong answer ends it. The initial recruiter call might be from a noisy place with bad phone connection. If you get to an onsite interview, expect to talk about handling customer escalations, as a lot of your time apparently goes into fixing problems from bad implementations. The interviewers might seem rude, typing away while looking at their laptops and chatting with their boss. I was told the job requires 10-hour days and getting broker licenses before starting. You just need to pass the exam, don't worry about knowing the material, as one interviewer admitted they didn't know much about insurance. The salary is around $70K with a $30K bonus potential, which sounds like a sure thing since there's no real measurement system for it, according to one interviewer. They won't try to get to know you, as the interviewers will be busy with their own tasks. You'll get to show off your consultative selling skills in a role-play and handle mock emails from angry customers if you're good enough. Zenefits has a great product and some good people, but many I met weren't qualified for their roles.

I had a quick informal chat first, then a phone call, and finally a 3-hour in-person interview with multiple people. The first meeting was encouraging since I have a lot of experience in the field like the interviewer. However, during the office interview, it became clear that my approach to customer service clashed with Zenefits' approach. They hired me because I have a high client retention rate, but the interviewers seemed to think being hands-on with clients from implementation throughout the year was not a good thing. I knew it wasn't a good fit after meeting my potential manager, who had a really bad attitude and slouched while talking. She explicitly stated there was no need to meet clients face-to-face, and if necessary, clients could come to the Zenefits office. My concerns about customer service were confirmed when I asked about company culture and work-life balance. As a parent involved in my child's life, I was told, 'You can leave early at 5 pm, but you should sign back in from home after your child is asleep.' I declined the offer. It wasn't the right fit, and based on what I've heard, it was the right decision.

The interview process moved quickly and they were accommodating with scheduling. Since I was a student and couldn't travel to SF, I completed the interview via video call instead. I received an offer in under a week after the initial screening and subsequent interview. I then started my role about two weeks post-offer.