Hurst Media interview questions

The entire process was a broken hiring process with no consistency, no accountability, and no regard for candidate experience. It felt improvised from start to finish, with shifting expectations, unclear requirements, and communication that routinely failed to match what was promised. Delays were constant, explanations were weak or contradictory, and updates were either vague or non-existent. There was no visible ownership of the process, no coordination between stakeholders, and no sense that candidate time or effort was being taken seriously at any stage.

The application was submitted via LinkedIn. A couple of weeks later, a missed call was followed by an email invitation to attend an in-person interview, requiring work shifts to be rearranged. On the day of the interview, arrival was 15 minutes early, as instructed, with an initial wait in the downstairs lobby. After contacting the interviewer, instructions were given to proceed to the first floor, followed by an additional 15-minute wait in a communal breakout area. There was no acknowledgement or apology for the delay. The interview was conducted by two employees and took place at a table in the same open breakout area, surrounded by other staff working or holding meetings. This setting felt impersonal and uncomfortable, as it was not private and conversations could easily be overheard. During the interview, questions were asked about prior experience, but it appeared that the CV had not been reviewed in detail beforehand, as several questions did not align with the information provided. Both interviewers checked their phones at various points, which was distracting and made it difficult to maintain a clear flow of discussion. While this may have been for work-related reasons, it came across as unprofessional in an interview setting. The questions themselves were fairly basic, including queries about comfort with line-managing junior staff despite clear prior experience. There was also a comment about having “many roles in a short time,” which did not accurately reflect the CV. Salary expectations were discussed in the open area, which felt awkward given the lack of privacy. The interview lasted approximately 6–7 minutes. It was stated that all candidates were being seen that day and that successful applicants would be invited back for a second interview. Although it was indicated that a response would be given the following day, no further communication was received, even after a month. Given that the company had been researched in advance, the overall interview experience was disappointing. Suggested improvements include conducting interviews in a private setting, respecting candidates’ time by avoiding delays or acknowledging them when they occur, and ensuring follow-up communication after interviews—particularly when candidates have rearranged work commitments to attend.