Submitted my initial application online and was invited to interview 3 months later. I found the two interviewers (a partner of the company, and a current marketing employee) generally negative in their demeanour and quite unwelcoming. In addition, I found the questions very basic and a tad unprofessional and was particularly very surprised when asked how I would cope in an environment with “a lot of tension among certain female members of staff.”
Following this 15 minute interview, I was told I would hear from Mainland Press within the next week. Almost 2 weeks later, and a follow-up phone call, I was invited to a second round interview with very little notice.
In the second round interview, the interviews were conducted solely by a third-party organisation. Despite researching various marketing trends, the impact of social media and SEO optimization, I was astounded to be asked almost exactly the same foundation-level questions. “Where do you live?” “What do you know about Mainland Press?” “How would you cope under pressure?” “Salary Expectations?” Not once was I asked to undertake any competency based tests. Likewise, the interview lasted little over 15 minutes and even the job title had changed from a ‘Marketing Executive’ to a Marketing Assistant.’ I was not told of any such changes beforehand, and whatsmore, the third-party organisation conducting the interview was confused as to why I; or any of the other candidates had not been provided with a description of the general role requirements. Utter shambles!
4 weeks later, I was told I was unsuccessful via a short voicemail message. I was also told that no financial assistance for attending the two interviews would be provided. Overall, I found the overall process slow and wholly unprofessional.
