I applied online. I interviewed at Elemental (Toronto, ON)
Interview
I recently interviewed with Elemental in Toronto and found the experience both disappointing and concerning. The founder who led the interview admitted he hadn’t read my resume and asked no questions about my qualifications, experience, or skills. Instead, the conversation quickly veered into inappropriate territory — including invasive questions about my religion, nationality, and reasons for being in Canada. He also asked where I was “really from,” a loaded and offensive question many immigrants and radicalized professionals know all too well.
Rather than assessing my professional fit for the role, the interview seemed more focused on making assumptions about my identity and intentions of moving to Canada. This kind of behavior is not only unprofessional, but discriminatory and unacceptable in any workplace.
Additionally, during my research and interaction, I noticed a concerning lack of female representation in leadership. The executive team appears to consist primarily of men, with a very young women only present in junior or roles — a pattern that speaks volumes about the company’s values and culture.
Do not recommend
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Elemental (Toronto, ON)
Interview
The interview process began with a 25-30 minute phone call answering the usual kind of questions, but also some unexpected. The second step was face-to-face and was more of a get-to-know-you conversation, with a brief look over my portfolio.
I applied online. I interviewed at Elemental (Toronto, ON) in Feb 2017
Interview
I went in for an interview with my colleague and met with the CD and President. The interview was so uncomfortable that I wish we had both walked out. For a whole hour he was spewing negativity, and didn't sell his agency or the work and culture at all. The whole time he was belittling us and our work, without the constructive criticism and was plain arrogant and rude.
When I asked if he would be personally mentoring interns he responded with "the word 'mentor' makes me feel uncomfortable." He also mentioned that he "enjoys seeing the innocence of young people being taken away" when they join the industry.
Up to applying for the job, I had never heard of him, the agency, or their work so if you are talented don't waste your time here. He even happened to tell us that he probably won't be hiring after the internship period is over because the economic crash of 2008 has been really hard on businesses, which is really silly when you think of all the businesses that have started and have grown in the past 10 years...
If this is what a one-hour interview is like, I can't ever imagine interning at a place like this.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
- What do you do on your spare time?
- What are you currently reading?
- What's one piece in your portfolio you are proud of?
Given the interpretation of the interview, it appears from this post that the candidate failed to discern the subtext of the interview, the context of the questions, or the method of indirect assessment. This candidate was not invited for a second interview, nor offered the opportunity.
Clearly, what was reported here as an easy interview, was anything but.
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