I applied through a recruiter. The process took 1 week. I interviewed at Handshake in Oct 2022
Interview
My first call with the Talent Manager went really well and she was great. Next step was 2 calls with RVPs. One of the RVPs was great. He really gets it and I could tell he would be a great manager to work with. Unfortunately the other RVP was the hiring manager and she was aloof and a tough sell. I had back to back 45 minute zoom interviews with each of them. They were both very focused on filling out a check list of questions with my answers and less focused on getting to know me as a candidate or, giving me the chance to know them at all. It was a very one sided scenario and in the case of the hiring manager, she didn’t manage the time well on her end so I was not even given the opportunity to ask any questions. The irony is that she gave feedback to my recruiter about my lack of time management. Um….you’re running the interview and have the list of questions you need to get through not me?!
Also, this was for a hunter role and not a very strategic sale. I was not aware until the interview that the average sale was only $40-70k and once it’s closed you turn it over to another team asap. Even if I clicked with the hiring manager it would have been a no for me. These roles are best for more junior reps and have a high burn out/ turn over rate. No thanks!
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Be aware that they have a list of questions that the interviewers have to get through and that is their priority. If they don’t manage their time properly then you lose the chance to get any of your questions answered. You could also tell they were having a tough time fitting in all of the questions into the 45 minutes…. Too structured and doesn’t allow free flow conversation at all.
I applied online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Handshake (New York, NY)
Interview
Relatively straightforward interview process but the CEO is too involved and has final say on each candidate. Never met CEO, went through multiple meetings with sales leaders, did a discovery presentation, only for the CEO to decide against me after getting approval from everyone else.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Describe past wins, losses. Standard interview questions
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Handshake in May 2023
Interview
Recruiter was sharp. As for the sales leaders I met with, not so much. Asked me to follow up with specific action items for next steps. I did and never heard a word back. I'm big on respect and accountability (backing up what you say you're going to do). Both of these RVPs lacked in those two areas and in the general characteristics you look for in leaders. Shows to the type of culture handshake is building and why they are so many poor reviews.
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Handshake (San Francisco, CA) in Mar 2023
Interview
My interview with Handshake consisted of a recruiter screen, hiring manager interview, hiring manager peer interview, mock discovery presentation, and a final executive interview. The entire process from start to finish took about 2 weeks and I found every stage to be well-structured and thoughtfully designed to assess my skills, experience, and cultural fit. Everyone I met was friendly, knowledgeable, and seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me as a person and a professional - a testament to the company’s culture and values. I especially appreciated the recruiter (Luke Losin) who kept me informed every step of the way, expressed authentic enthusiasm, and truly went above and beyond to ensure I had a positive experience!
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Know your prior quotas and attainment percentages going into the first interview!
