Horrible!
These guys are the reason why I hate interviewing for SEO positions! Let me explain why these types of companies ruin the trust from SEO manager in the interview stage. I had two interviews with them
First interview - 45 min:
The interviewer starts of by being late (never a good sign but things happen!) There is zero introduction into the company, the position or even what kind of candidate they are looking for. The interviewer starts to explain the current issues they have with their SEO strategy and basically wastes no time on anything else but asking me how I would solve the issues they are currently facing. (I thought it was odd but okay) so I give some of general thoughts on how I would approach this issue without having looked at any of their data. Where the interviewer says that she needs step by step examples of how I would solve their issue, so that she can be take notes. I already have a weird feeling that they are not really looking to hire an SEO manager but only using this interview as a free consulting session. The red flags continue piling on when the interviewer asks if someone with no SEO experience can action on my suggested ideas and realistically how hard is it really?
This continues for literally 45 min where the interviewer just asks me how I would solve a list of current SEO issues. Not even once did the interviewer ask me anything about my experience or my motivations on applying for the role. Once the interview was done I felt like I was exploited and actually slightly pissed. But thought that maybe the interviewer was just in-experienced with interviewing candidates.
I was told that they would get back to me in 2 days with an update. 7 days later I reach out to them and I am told that they would like to proceed with my profile. (I had mixed feelings, didnt know if that was a good thing or not)
Second interview - 30 min:
I was more positive for this interview, because its obviously with C-level and surely he is not going to continue the free consultancy session. I WAS SO WRONG!! For this interview the C-level started sharing his screen and asked where/which metrics I would look at to solve the issues shared by the previous interviewer. (I was already knees deep in mud so might aswell just answer and hope that I get the job). He then starts of reading through a new list of SEO issues and wants step-by-step guide on how I would fix these issues while he takes notes. This also continues for 30 min and I have now spend almost 1.5 hours of my time giving these guys free SEO advice and right before he ends the interview I am told that this position will now be part time. (sucks to spend so much time and energy and then be told this at the end)
After my call with the C-level, the previous interviewer reaches out to me on LinkedIn and tells me that I made a very good impression and originally this would be the last stage in the interview process but she would love if I could create a ppt presentation of SEO opportunities which their site lacks. I was told that this would really improve my chances of getting hired! (seems shady to me) I told her that I shared multiple ideas in the interviews and felt it was more than enough.
I am told that there would be a final decision by end of week (in 3 days) but of course I dont hear anything from them. So I reach out to them and get a vague reply of "sorry we have been busy" and will get back to you asap. Another week goes by and I reach out to them again, where I get this most AI answer ever "We really appreciate your time and effort throughout the hiring process, After several considerations, we've decided to move forward with another person this time."
Going back to why SEO´s hate interviewing for SEO positions, most of us feel completely exploited for our knowledge and in some cases we are litterally used as free consultants! It is such a shame!
I only write this review to save another poor SEO soul from wasting their time and energy on a company that clearly was not interested in telling their candidate anything about the company or the position and changed the position to part time at the end of a second interview.
Just lots of red flags!
