Condé Nast Media Sales Executive interview questions

Brief powerpoint presentation followed by a psychometric test and quick interview asking questions like Why do you want to work here, Where do you see yourself in 5 years time, Why media sales.

About 11 of us given a presentation about the role then given a test and allowed about 45 minutes for this. Questions were straightforward, basically a personality test and psychometric, multiple choice questions. Some questions at the end required a written answer such as 'how would an enemy describe you?' 'what gives you pleasure in life?'. Taken for a very short one and one interview and was talked over.

Applied by post and was accepted to first round interview. Short Presentation by them followed and then they asked us (roughly 12) to take a personality test - all very simple. The five minute interview that followed was fine apart from the interviewer cutting me off at almost every point. Questions asked: Why Conde Nast? Which of our publications do you read? Are you really interested in Media Sales? Where else did you apply? I was invited back for a second interview. They like to do it in quick succession and I believe they invited many of us back for second interviews as I saw interviewee's that I recognized either before or after me. The interview was completely bizarre. Questions asked: What is your first childhood memory What was your first day of primary school like How was the transition from primary to secondary school? What clubs did you attend/ extra curricular/ activities involved in How was it going from a small school to a big one? Were you close to your sister? I was expecting competency based questions or at least questions related to my CV and achievements to date/ degree. I'm not sure entirely what her intention was but I would guess that it was an attempt to gauge my popularity and how malleable I was. To me it seemed somewhat unrelated to the job.

Conde Nast are very old fashioned, I applied for the position, as requested, via mail. I was soon written back to with an offer for an interview, which had to be confirmed over the phone. The interview was in the afternoon, in Vogue House, just off of Oxford st. We made to fill out a phone whilst waiting then taken into a board room (a group of around 11 of us) where we were given a presentation on the company and the role of the Media Sales Executive. We were the given a test to complete (the test wasn't hard, mostly a personality test then a few questions where you had to find the next answer in the sequence along with some questions about yourself). Whilst taking the test we were taken one by one into a side room for the shortest interview on earth. I was ushered into the room, looked up and down (I dressed more business than fashion, hoping to show that I was serious and not just there to live out my The Hills/City/Ugly Betty fantasy but I think that this backfired and the lady lost interest in me) She picked up my application form and CV went as though she had meant to look through it but couldn't be bothered put them down and asked me why I wanted to work for Conde Nast, Where else I had applied to, and where I saw myself career wise in 5 years time ("don't just say a job describe your position"). I am usually good at interviews but was cut off and talked over despite keeping my answers concise. The interview lasted less than two minutes and I was lead back into the room to finish my test. I was rejected in writing. I believe that there would have been another interview the week after, had I been accepted.

Presentation by Head of Media Sales, then a psychometric test with 20 other applicants followed by an interview. Test was timed (can’t remember exactly how long but I think about half an hour) and the interview lasted only 5 mins! Called back for a second interview which lasted 45 mins - hour. The second interview as a week after the first and was held at the same location.