Very Difficult Interview – Overall Negative Experience – Yes, but I declined– 1 of 1 found this helpful – Fri, 8 Jul 2022
Interviewed Jul 2,022 in Montreal, QC (took 21 days)
I interviewed for Category Manager, Field Services. Position based in Montréal but the team is located in Vancouver
- 15 min RH call
- 30 min Category lead interview
- 1h Panel Interview, 3 Category Leads
- Case Study preparation
- 1h Case study presentation, 2 Category Leads, 1 Director. They want you to prepare a case study that will include market research, Procurement analysis, and Financial analysis, prepare a PowerPoint presentation and show the Excel sheet with all the calculations. All of that in an innovative way.
Basically, a work of research and analysis that normally takes a month to do in any regular job, they want you to do it for FREE in 6 days as if you have nothing more important to do during that time and as if you were already one of their employees.
Then, you have to present to 3 white middle-aged men based in Vancouver, who will question you as if you were already one of their employees. Very old-school and toxic environment during the case study presentation.
As for the innovation, they just want to see your Excel skills, don't bother to show more modern tools, they won't understand.
The difficulty is not for the content but for the toxic environment during the case study presentation.
I am not surprised that the position has been online for 2 months.
After the case study interview, I asked to withdraw from the hiring process. If you are looking for old school, all-white middle-aged man environment, this is definitely a place for you.
Interview Questions
Case study presentation questions
Do you think you can read English documents?
( Very condescending question. It gives you an idea of the diversity and inclusion of the all-white middle-aged men's panel you need to present during the interview. Question asked in French, then translated into English to the other two members of the panel but not my answer. I had just finished presenting a case study in English. Also enrolled in a Master of Engineering in Information Technology.
Why you did not use X elements in the case study?
(There was not enough time and it is in my free time.)
How long will it take to do the case study during regular hours? (I do not know, I did it in my FREE time, not your employee)
Answer Question
Other Details
The interview consisted of Phone Interview, 1:1 Interview, Group/Panel Interview, Skills Test and Presentation