I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Meltwater
Interview
I was contacted by a recruiter in response to an online application. Had a phone screening and was invited in for a group interview.
Similar to what others have written, the group interview was a little bizarre and unlike anything I've ever experienced. A full half day in a hotel conference room (why wouldn't they just do this in their office?) with 7 or so Meltwater employees and about 9 candidates. Group presentations, choosing who among your peers you would want to be your manager, elevator pitches, mock debates, and the like.
I was called back later that day for an individual interview in their office. I had assumed an "individual interview" would be 1-1 with employees, maybe a few rounds of this. What actually happened was more like pledging a fraternity/sorority than a job interview.
I sat across the table from all 7 employees from the morning session and they legit grilled me for an hour and a half on my experience, strengths/weaknesses, and business knowledge, which is fine. But they also asked a lot of very personal questions (who do you live with, how long have you been with your significant other, what would your best friend say your weaknesses are) and really pushed for the intimate details. They kept saying "we're sorry if this is weird we just want to get to know you" but it was really bizarre and prying.
Seriously the weirdest, most intense interview process ever - I felt like I was being interviewed to adopt a child, not for a sales job. I also asked about the seemingly endless # of negative posts online about them, and they pretty much avoided the question and blamed it on a few immature ex employees.
I got a call a few days later saying they weren't going to be making me an offer because they were looking for a "more experienced candidate" when I had more experience than anyone in my group and they spent all session telling us that they didn't care about experience and just wanted to bring in the right people and train them. Not even mad though, I probably would have declined anyway based on how strange and awkward the process was. Seems very cult-like.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What would your best friend say he/she doesn't like about you?
Who (of your group of peers) would you choose to be your manager and why?
Pretend you're calling me and pitching me our product.
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Meltwater (Chicago, IL) in Mar 2013
Interview
Very extensive interview process. Two phone interviews, a group interview, and a panel interview (5 Melwater employees and yourself). The group interview was unlike any interview I've ever been on. There is a lot of role playing, they ask you who of the rest of the group you would want to have as your manager, a debate, and you have to give an elevator speech. For the panel interview there was a lot of sales role playing, they have you tell why you would or wouldn't hire each of the people from the previous day's group interview. Overall a good interview experience, but definitely the hardest interview process I've experienced.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
You have to answer questions as someone that you are very close to would answer about you (family, friend, or coworker)
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Meltwater (San Francisco, CA) in Jun 2012
Interview
My interview consisted of 2 phone interviews with different people and then a panel interview with 3 people. The phone interviews were not phone screens, so be prepared for an intense 30 minutes. During the panel interview, I was asked questions I have never been asked before so make sure to think up everything from your past jobs so you can speak about it.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Who is your best friend and what would they say they you need to work on?