Applied online. Received a request to schedule a phone interview within a week. Interview happened the week after, lasted 30 or so minutes. I spoke with a member of the design team. Questions were about my educational background, work experience, and my abilities to design content for children. Ended with a logic puzzle (three boxes question). They followed up with a job test, which I completed. Heard back two weeks later that they were not offering me a position.

I wanted to join IXL because I love their product and thought once oriented to their modis operendi and culture, I would become a valued team member. Despite my enthusiasm, I hesitated to apply for a position with an Edtech company because of a presumed age-bias. But IXL adverts state that the company is seeking both newly minted and seasoned professionals, so I decided to give it a try. After submitting my application, I was invited to set up a phone interview. The interviewer gave a brief description of the organization focusing on the Curriculum Designer unit and then asked me relevant questions about my background and interests. She was warm and engaging. The interview was concluded with a brain teaser, which I did not solve. I had my laptop nearby but should have had a pad and pen instead - I do much better with brain teasers if I can draw the scenario. The following day the interviewer sent me a very friendly letter inviting me to move onto the the next phase: a two-part curriculum design assignment. I was given a week to complete it. Part One was supposed to take approx. 20-30 min. It took me approx. 40 min to mull over and respond. It was a map-reading question designed for 3rd graders and I was asked to analyze it for potential problems and edit it for increased difficulty. Part Two involved choosing a topic for 8th graders from a provided list, designing two multiple choice questions, correct answers, detractors and explanations for incorrect answers. It was supposed to take approximately three hours. I spent 10+ hrs familiarizing myself with IXL formatting, style and content (moving through 8th grade curriculum with a free temporary membership); selecting and researching my topic; crafting questions, detractors and an explanation; collecting open domain maps, pictures and quotes; and putting it all together. I received a form letter rejection a few days later. I was disappointed to not make it to the onsite interview and I will never know what the deciding factor was. I presume that they did not like the way I approached the topic. If age discrimination is embedded in their selection criteria (as one poster to this forum has asserted), of course no one would be able to express that publicly. That is where the murky concept of "fit" plays a role. Whatever the reason, I appreciate the warmth and professionalism of the HR contact person and Curriculum Designer who processed my application.