I interviewed at Interface Engineering (Portland, OR)
Interview
Very simple. Asked about my classes and if I can see myself staying in Portland. No technical questions, just asked about my interest in the MEP world. Asked about any interesting classes, and what I liked the most from them
I applied online. I interviewed at Interface Engineering
Interview
This was one of the most excruciating interviews I've ever had the pleasure of taking part in. The short and sweet, it was COVID times but they wanted to do the interview in person. We were in an empty office building with dead plants everywhere, It starts off okay, but I quickly realize that the interviewer has a page of questions, a whole page, SINGLE SPACED. I made a little joke about how intense it was, so she flipped the page over so I could see that the back was also covered in questions. It takes over an hour to complete all the questions, and then she asks "are you willing to work Holidays?" To which I replied, "That depends which holidays...." She tells me that she's worked Christmas the last EIGHT YEARS. She was basically looking for someone to take that role. I let her know that if she had started with that question, we could have not wasted all of our precious time. Also, it's payroll, figure it out. Easily the biggest red flag of a toxic environment.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
The lengthy list of questions was boring average questions and they seemed to repeat. "Tell me about your experience with bonuses"
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Interface Engineering (Portland, OR)
Interview
Talked to recruiter on phone first who's job it is to "sell" the company and position. He made big claims that no one ever complained about discrimination in the work place and how great their benefits are. He mostly talked about himself and didn't ask me about my background at all or even why I was interested in working for the company. He made a comment about hiring people who won't cause drama in the workplace which was a bit off putting but not so much so that I didn't still want to meet with the people doing the in person interview since I knew those are the people I'd be working with.
I met with two people who were easy to talk with and it was a more informal interview to get to know about my skills and experience with what they are looking for rather than those "tell me about a time when you were proud of yourself" stuff to throw you off. They were also a bit unprepared for my questions and again different information than what the recruiter had mentioned. It was obvious there was a disconnect between the communication between them and the recrutier.
They hired someone else for the initial position I interviewed for and asked me to come back to interview a second time which I did and at that point decided it was not the right place for me. The pay scale was low to begin with for the first position and there was no discussion of the difference in pay between the two positions. It was clear they were not willing to increase pay or budge on that which is somewhat understandable with Oregon pay equity law. It would mean they would have likely give everyone else with the same job an increase. So, no negotiating for a living wage here.
Pay is much lower than industry standard and not good compensation for the cost of living in the area. Their benefits are very standard except the retirement plan which is pretty terrible and nothing to get excited about.