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Washington Post Interview Questions & Reviews

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Web: www.washpostco.com | HQ: Washington, DC

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Updated Jan 1, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 9 ratings

3.0

“Average” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 9 ratings

Positive	56%
Neutral	22%
Negative	22%

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2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Nov 2011 in Washington, DC (took 3 months)

Interaction with the company was fairly slow; I applied in early October and got a response after a weeks week followed by an invitation for an onsite about a month later(with no communication in between). I chose to interview during the holiday season because the company seemed rushed and the whole process seemed poorly assembled. The interviewers seemed ill prepared and it felt like the process was done on the spot. I'm a little salty that it felt like a thrown together interview when I was willing to travel there during the holiday season. After everything the final response was a generic one that resembled one I've received from other companies who chose not to pursue me at all(no phone interview or anything); I guess gone are the days of professionalism, courtesy, and respect. Good luck to other candidates but I wouldn't apply here again.

Interview Questions

How would you count the appearances numbers of in a list

View Answers (1)

Something about after you've aggregated all the data, per member, in a dataset how would you prevent one member in a dataset with a lot of records from dominating the clustering algorithm vs members with only a few records.

View Answers (1)

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Group/Panel Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Oct 2011 in Washington, DC (took 2 weeks)

A friend passed along my resume for a job opening she heard about for an IT project manager. I was contacted first by an HR representative about a week after I handed over my resume. This first phone interview was more of an initial screening process for basic qualifications. I was asked a series of high level questions about why I was looking for a job, salary range, and a short description of my job history. I was then recommended for the 2nd phone interview with a staff memeber within the IT project management group.

The 2nd interview is also a phone interivew more detailed your project management history and experience on different projects. Questions are based on how you might handle certain project management issues, what type of tools you're used to using, and how you lead a team. The interview lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. I was then recommended for an in-person interview.

The 3rd interview is in-person with 2 members of the project management staff. I am told that these members are normally not the same as who you've also interviewed by phone, but in my case, it was. Although the interview was informal, there is a script of questions that the group must follow and document your responses. This might be because responses are then passed to other team members who weigh in on the hiring decision based on responses alone. The questions are mostly situatutional and behavioral questions. Examples are "What did you do in an instance where you didn't agree with your boss?", "Was there a time when you suggested a different way to handle a project?" "What do you do when you don't get along with a team member?"

I received a phone call a week after I interviewed to inform me that I was not offered the position. While disappointed, I appreciated the timely response and status of the position.

Interview Questions

Was there a time when you disagreed with a decision your boss made?

Answer Question

Explain a time when you did not get along with team members.

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through an Employee Referral and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a Group/Panel Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Jun 2010 in Washington, DC (took 2 days)

TWP uses a Targeted Selection behaviroal interview system. Candidates are asked 8 - 15 situation specific questions that should allow the candidate to demonstrate competencies and accomplishments in their work. Questions need to be answered in PAR format (problem, action, solution).

Interview Questions

Tell me about a time when you had to objectively consider somebody elses' idea even when it conflicted with your own.

View Answers (1)

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Dec 2009 (took a day)

I was hired through a staffing agency into a full time position. Interview was very straight-forward. No case studies or personality tests. Interviews were one-on-one. Employees were friendly and there were no big egos to contend with. Work/life balance.

Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself

Answer Question

Negotiation Details

My advice to people interviewing at this company is that you will never have as much barganing power as you do when you take the job.

Other Details

I got the interview through a Staffing Agency and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Drug Test and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jul 2011 (took 4 weeks)

I received a call from HR to set up a phone interview which happened instantly. Following week, I was called for a face to face interview. I waited for about 20 minutes for someone to come at the lobby and allow me to enter the building. Not only that, there was a mis-communication internally and after initial minutes with HR I went for an actual interview with other 2 members (by this time it was 30 minutes behind the schedule time) Interview was good and I received a very positive feedback. Then I went for HR interview again which lasted for about 20 minutes and I was told by 2 members and HR that I will hear one or the other way by the end of next week.

That never happened but after 2 weeks I received an email from HR that they have finished all the interviews and would like to discuss next steps with me. I provided the time frame when I was available to discuss the next steps (I already had an offer by this time so I put it on hold for couple of days since I wanted to discuss final steps with the post). Surprisingly, never heard from them on the confirmed time but for about a week. I followed up by calling and was told that they will get back to me in 1-2 days and after 2 weeks I still don't have anything.

All and all very unprofessional from the post - they could have shown some courtesy to at least notify me one or the other way.

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Feb 2011 (took a day)

Why you are leaving for the current job?
What's your salary expectation?

Very simple

Interview Questions

why you are leaving for the current job

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Apr 2009 (took 2 weeks)

The interview process was very thorough -- first a phone interview, followed by a submission of existing writing samples, then coming up with a few sample pitches, then a second round of phone interviews. The interviews themselves were very pleasant, if nerve-wracking beforehand. All told, the process took a couple weeks.

Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself.

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a Skills Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Mar 2010 in Washington, DC (took 3 weeks)

Behavioral questions. One with HR and then a second interview with the VP and Counsel.

Interview Questions

Tell me about a time when you had to collaborate with someone. How did it make you feel?

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jun 2009 (took 2 weeks)

the editor in charge of hiring for the vacant position emailed me to set up a phone interview and we spoke within one week. While this person was informative about the job, a certain arrogance came across on his side and it turned me off. the interview was more than 30 minutes and was thorough.

he followed through with promises to keep me updated on the status of the position,.