Healthwise... Maybe Not So Wise?
My first interview was with the hiring manager. She and I seemed to connect and have an engaging conversation. She really led me to believe that I was perfect for the position, although I think this role is more SEO and sales-like writing and my experience is more media relations- and PR-focused writing like press releases and talking points.
One red flag that stood out to me during this process is how they (Healthwise) claim they are a nonprofit when the company seems so sales-y. Literally, if you go to their website, so much of their content is gated. Infact, before my first interview, I did research on Healthwise (via their website) and found a case study that I wanted to read, so I could discuss it in my interview... but that content was gated. I was like... "wow, are you serious? Like I'm literally just trying to do research for this interview... BUT I'm not giving you my email and signing up for a demo to see the case study."
In between my first and second interview, I had to complete two writing assignments. The first was improving article titles for SEO. Basically, I just made the titles sound click bate-y like all the blog articles on their website. The next assignment was writing a lead generating sales email. I actually hate email marketing, so I probably should of threw in the towel at that point, but I didn't.
Although, overall, I'd say the interview process was well organized on their end, another thing that I KNEW I had to point out in this review is how awkward it is to have future direct reports in the interview for their future manager. This was the case here. I understand that some companies probably think this is a progressive practice...but I think it's sooooooooooooo strange. I felt like the marketing specialist was really uncomfortable too. This round of the interview process also had a director, another manager, and I think a web specialist -or something like that- also as interviewers.
Something else that was off-putting to me--one of the four interviewers in my 2nd interview just dipped out after like 20 minutes. I was like... "oh did we lose someone?" The director in the interview was like "yeah, that person had a doctors appointment." I just literally wanted to say... "yeah, ummmm, maybe next time tell the candidate that this will happen in the beginning of the interview, so the candidate won't be thrown off. " I found it to be a little distracting.
This process with Healthwise has made me realize that I need to take a break from my job search. I am employed and the job I have is good, I honestly just want to make a higher salary.