This was one of the strangest interviews I've had for a copywriting position. I don't think they've worked with Amazon copywriters before or know what they're looking for.
I normally have very bad interview anxiety, so the fact that this guy didn't smile a single time during our 30-minute video call definitely didn't help. Everything felt very stiff and unwelcoming.
He didn't offer up any information about himself, the company or seem interested in getting to know me as a candidate. It was essentially a rapid-fire question session that felt more like an interrogation than an interview.
He also seemed confused on several industry-standard practices. For example, I was asked why I didn't offer image copywriting with my listing optimization services. When I explained that I did but it was just a separate add-on service, he seemed confused and continued to ask me why I didn't offer image copy with the main listing as a complete package — like that was the wrong way to do it. I've been specializing in Amazon copy for years and am in a ton of groups with other copywriters and sellers, and offering image copy as an add-on service is something virtually every Amazon copywriter does.
At another point in the interview, he asked me to clarify what feature-benefit copy was, which is something I would expect a Creative Director to know. Towards the end, he mentioned that the other copywriters they were talking to didn't even know how to do keyword research, which is absolutely crucial to know if you're doing Amazon copy. So that tells me they're primarily looking for entry-level copywriters who don't actually specialize, or they have no idea what they're looking for.
The whole thing was so weird that I wound up talking to a business associate about it a few days later and they mentioned most of the GOJA department heads were related to the owner. Turns out this is a family-owned business and not a corporation like it's presented.
If it was a small business, that would be fine. But nepotism is always a no-go in larger companies like this, so I'm glad I didn't hear back before I found this info out. It also creates a lack of trust in leadership and just makes for an all-around awkward boss-employee relationship.
If you're planning on working here, just be aware that there probably won't be room to grow and move up if family members are the only people who get promoted here.