Awful. After a series of IQ/behavioral tests, you can expect a series of video/in-person interviews with "senior management".
One exec actually said during the interview, complaining about a current employee, "Everything is ok, but if you don't get things done, then we are going to have words." He also was quite forthright about having a bad temper.
Another senior staffer -- whose seemingly only qualification for being an exec is that he's been there a while, but with no previous skill set, pushed for answers to questions that were not applicable to the role. When I tried to explain how I would solve the problem, he came back and literally insisted I "pick a color".
The CEO seems to have control/trust issues and likes to play power games.
Beyond these red flags, they have little respect for candidates and employees. Asking you to make yourself available for in-person interviews with less than a days notice. They expected me to drop everything (including other work obligations), to make myself available for them.
And finally, they repeatedly spoke poorly about the staff they already had. Briefly observing what I did, I saw overworked people that were desperate for work, otherwise they would have been long gone.
I applied online. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at Brenthaven (Seattle, WA) in Feb 2015
Interview
I applied through LinkedIn and was contacted the next day by their HR person. He setup an in person meeting with the Creative Director and Head of Marketing. Everything moved very fast, and the interview itself went really well. However, afterwards things got a little weird. Once I started to learn more about the role I immediately saw red flags popping up. While I was asking follow up questions I discovered that they were interviewing to replace another freelance designer currently working there who "just didn't have enough experience". I understood this to mean that the designer was currently in the process of leaving and that must be why they were moving so fast with interviews. Brenthaven's offices are very small and have an open plan. While they were giving me a tour they actually introduced me to this designer and spoke to her as if I could be her new partner. I quickly realized that she had no idea she was being replaced. This did not sit well with me at all. To make matters more insulting, they of course had advertised competitive pay. When I quoted them my hourly rate, the same rate I charge all my clients, and a rate I was not about to lower after visiting their offices, they declined to extend an offer. Which I think was for the best.
I applied in-person. The process took 1+ week. I interviewed at Brenthaven (Seattle, WA) in Nov 2015
Interview
Was interviewed over the phone by the current store manager, then called in for a face to face with her and director of HR. Was told directly that I am a "great fit," and that their offer would be "competitive."
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How can you make our retail operation turn a profit? (At this time, the HR director told me the retail side of the company had yet to turn a profit). For a 30+ year company, that was a bad sign- to me, at least.
