Skip to contentSkip to footer
  • Community
  • Jobs
  • Companies
  • Salaries
  • For employers
      Notifications

      Loading...

      Elevate your career

      Discover your earning potential, land dream jobs, and share work-life insights anonymously.

      employer cover photo
      employer logo
      employer logo

      SmartNews

      Is this your company?

      About
      Reviews
      Pay and benefits
      Jobs
      Interviews
      Interviews
      Related searches: SmartNews reviews | SmartNews jobs | SmartNews salaries | SmartNews benefits
      SmartNews interviewsSmartNews Workplace Manager interviewsSmartNews interview


      Glassdoor

      • About / Press
      • Awards
      • Blog
      • Research
      • Contact Us
      • Guides

      Employers

      • Free Employer Account
      • Employer Centre
      • Employers Blog

      Information

      • Help
      • Guidelines
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy and Ad Choices
      • Do Not Sell Or Share My Information
      • Cookie Consent Tool
      • Security

      Work With Us

      • Advertisers
      • Careers
      Download the App

      • Browse by:
      • Companies
      • Jobs
      • Locations
      • Communities
      • Recent posts

      Copyright © 2008-2026. Glassdoor LLC. "Glassdoor," "Worklife Pro," "Bowls" and logo are proprietary trademarks of Glassdoor LLC.

      Followed companies

      Stay ahead in opportunities and insider tips by following your dream companies.

      Job searches

      Get personalised job recommendations and updates by starting your searches.

      Workplace Manager Interview

      3 Apr 2026
      Anonymous interview candidate
      Tokyo
      No offer
      Negative experience
      Average interview

      Application

      I interviewed at SmartNews (Tokyo)

      Interview

      Interviewed for a Workplace / Facilities role. The overall process took approximately two months and included multiple rounds, culminating in a final interview followed by an additional meeting. The additional meeting was explained as necessary due to a change in reporting line, as the manager for this role had left the company. During the later stages, the discussions became quite detailed, including responsibilities, expectations, and operational scope. At that point, it felt like the process had effectively reached a final alignment phase. However, in the additional meeting, there were no substantial follow-up questions or deeper discussions. Instead, the conversation was largely focused on confirming my interest and willingness to join, which gave the impression that the process was already nearing its conclusion. After this, I was clearly told that I would receive an update within the following week. Later, I was informed that an internal meeting would take place on Thursday, and that I would receive an update on Friday. However, no communication was provided, and I later found out that the recruiter had gone on leave during that time. As a result, I had to follow up myself to understand the status. After my follow-up, I was informed that the team had not reached a conclusion due to time constraints in their internal discussion, and that another meeting would be scheduled the following week. Again, I was told I would receive an update the next week. That commitment was also not met. Ultimately, I had to follow up again in order to receive the final decision. In summary: - The process took approximately two months - Included a final interview and an additional meeting - The additional meeting focused primarily on confirming my intent to join rather than further evaluation - Clear communication commitments ("you will hear back next week") were made multiple times but not followed through - No proactive updates were provided, even after specific timelines (Thursday/Friday) were mentioned - The recruiter went on leave without any handover or interim communication - Multiple follow-ups were required from the candidate side While I understand that internal priorities and hiring needs can evolve, the lack of consistent and proactive communication at the final stage was disappointing. Even a brief update would have been appropriate, especially after multiple late-stage interactions and clearly communicated timelines. The final feedback indicated that the team decided to move forward with another candidate who had a stronger management-oriented and strategic background. However, it also gave the impression that the requirements may have shifted during the process. The interviewers themselves were professional, and the role was interesting. However, the overall process lacked consistency and transparency in communication. Candidates considering this company should be aware that timelines may extend significantly, and that communication during the final stage may not always be reliable.

      Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

      avatar
      Amazon
      3.7★Compensation and benefits
      avatar
      Google
      4.5★Compensation and benefits
      avatar
      Bitpanda
      3.8★Compensation and benefits
      avatar
      Amazon Web Services
      3.9★Compensation and benefits

      Bowls

      Get actionable career advice tailored to you by joining more bowls.

      Company Bowl sample

      Want the inside scoop on your own company?

      Check out your Company Bowl for anonymous work chats.