Insider interview questions

With over 20 years publishing experience I applied for this role. I heard back from a nice woman Miri, who sent me some copies of their publication to analyse. Based on the job description and interview brief I compiled a report of their publication and competitors, where I think the publication/company could improve and integrate and move forward with the times. At interview I met with Miri and the female MD. Again Miri seemed nice and asked pertinent questions, while I went through my report and analysis. I spoke about how the publication could create links with certain business organisations, how to increase revenue. I suggested there was no real structure to the publication. When it came to questions, the MD asked me what I thought they should do with the business, I said it depends on what you want to do. You could either focus on certain areas of business to become experts or broaden the content to appeal to more businesses. It was not for me to decide. She did not like the question being put back to her. I have no doubt there must be very good people working for this company who have aspirations of better things, and I feel sorry for them that they have to experience such dredgery in 2018/19. Remember this experience will make you stronger. I came into this interview wanting to find the right job, but not prepared to settle for something I would hate and drive me crazy. At my age, 37 at the time, I have my principles, and am quite forthright in my views and opinions. It was clear from past experience as younger more naive person that this woman was very authoratitive, draconian and unwilling to listen to other views. I felt I performed well in the interview, perhaps too well... it seems strong characters aren't what they are looking for. To the MD, I am sure this company is your life, but your ways of working are not fit for purpose in this day and age and you either need to accept that or move out of the way. Do you really want to be resented or seen as a decent person? The company can be successful but not while you treat employees as you do. The offices were severely outdated. Like a 90s jobcentre. Having worked for many top uk publishers, this was like a step back in time. Must. Do. Better.

Okay, where to begin? After submitting a CV and cover letter I was contacted two weeks later and invited to an interview. I accepted and then was sent an application form to fill in, with the same details as I included in my CV and cover letter. Before the interview, I checked out Glassdoor and came across what can only be called damning reviews of the chairwoman. It's safe to say I was a little apprehensive about attending but when I arrived at the Insider Media offices she was nowhere to be seen. I was seated outside the meeting room and my view of the rest of the office was blocked by a partition. I waited, listening to the hum of computers. Nobody spoke. I left an hour later having completed the first interview. I thought it went well. I was asked about my experience, given a number of situation-based questions about researching business news and then asked to complete a short writing task where I had to pick a press release from a choice of 3 and write it up in 15 minutes. A few hours later I received an email inviting me to a second interview. This time the 'chairwoman' would be present too. About two week later I arrived at the offices again. I waited on the seat in front of the partition, listening to the hum of computers. The meeting room door opened and I was invited in. Immediately, I was asked my reasons for picking the press release I did and interrogated on ways I would follow the article up. Reasonable questions maybe. However, having only seen these press releases for 15 minutes almost two weeks ago, I had to re-familiarise myself with them and answer the questions at the same time. Every time I provided a response, the chairwoman snapped "yes that's one. What else?" I was then asked a series of extremely specific situation based questions: how would I ensure a press release was exclusive next time? How would I get a camera shy business owner to speak? Again, every time I tried to answer, the chairwoman would interrupt and ask 'what else?' On one occasion when the other guy interviewing me tried to contextualise a question, she barked 'now you're giving him the answer,' and sighed. This act continued for another 15 minutes by which point I had resigned myself to the fact that every utterance would be silenced by a dismissive 'what else?' Question Time! Now it was my turn to ask. Whilst I had considered leaving the room ten minutes prior having never experienced such a farce of an interview, I thought I'd see what Insider Media is really all about. It turns out the chairwoman doesn't seem to know... Who are your competitors I asked? 'We don't have any,' said the chairwoman. None? Not even 'Place North West,' that other B2B business publication operating from offices a 20 minute walk across the city centre? 'Place North West do property,' said the chairwoman. And Insider Media CLEARLY doesn't touch property... Okay, what about Insider Media's online audience, how does it differ from their print audience? 'It's different,' said the chairwoman then spoke for a long time, but said very little. She kept on talking, saying 'different' many times, showing me she knew everything about it being different but knowing nothing about why that was so. I also asked what stories they didn't cover. 'Crime,' she barked. 'As in fraud?' I asked. I presumed she didn't mean triple homicide. But as always the chairwoman didn't hear. She was talking again and nobody was listening anymore. She spoke some more but by this point her voice was coming at me (like the offices) out of a time machine, very far away She called me 'dear' and looked at me like I was 2 and had shat myself. I walked out the door, went into the lift. 'We'll be in touch,' the other guy said. The day after I received an email informing me that I had been unsuccessful. I replied asking for feedback. The response arrived: 'Insider Media doesn't give feedback.' What does it do?