I applied online. The process took 6 weeks. I interviewed at Salted Stone in Sept 2024
Interview
I was initially excited to interview with Salted Stone, as the role and company seemed like a great fit. However, my experience during the interview process left much to be desired.
I was asked to complete a lengthy unpaid assignment, which involved creating a detailed marketing strategy for one of their clients. While I understand the importance of assessing skills, this task required significant time and effort. Not to mention, I was sick during this time so I should have been resting but I was working on a presentation with a very tight deadline.
After submitting and presenting my work, I was informed they were still conducting interviews and would hear back first week of October (a full month since my presentation of the unpaid assignment).
Despite knowing I wasn’t going to be chosen (I mean... hello0o0o0o it's been an entire 4 weeks), I reached out to inquire if a decision had been made. I was informed two days later that I was no longer being considered.... but to be honest, I doubt they hired anyone.
A hiring process involving rolling interviews usually indicates a company isn’t serious about hiring.
I was duped.
It’s disheartening when companies request unpaid work from candidates while still actively interviewing others, as it can feel like a misuse of time and effort.
I would strongly advise Salted Stone to reconsider this part of their process and implement better communication with candidates. If they need to see skills, surely a portfolio can suffice.
Transparency and respect for applicants’ time are crucial, especially when asking for extensive work.
To future candidates: be cautious of companies that request unpaid work without clear expectations or follow-up. It’s important to value your time and expertise.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Practicum Assignment: Marketing Plan
This practicum assignment assesses your ability to develop a strategic marketing plan for AutoBotz, a (fictitious) leading provider of industrial automation solutions targeting North American manufacturing companies. You are expected to leverage your own research and any reasonable insights that you can gather about the industrial automation sector to analyze market trends, understand client objectives, and propose a strategic roadmap aligned with their business goals.
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Salted Stone (Perth, Western Australia) in Jun 2022
Interview
I applied for the job via LinkedIn. There was no pre screen call & after some emails to organized a time, I went straight to 1-1 Zoom call with the Chief Operations Officer. I unfortunately didn’t progress beyond that step.
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Salted Stone in Nov 2019
Interview
Had a preliminary phone interview that discussed work history, experience and salary requirements. This was followed by a design test, then an in person interview to review and discuss the test as well as more in depth experience questions.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Are there any areas of design that you wish you could do more?