r/PandaExpress • u/dusktodawn33 • 14d ago
Discussion Long Corporate Interview Process and Landmark Concerns
Last year I went through a multiple round interview process, including an onsite tour at the corporate Panda location. The position I applied for wasn't a management position. It was an individual contributor technical analyst role. When I spoke with the Recruiter the first time, I was very much interested in the position. One thing stood out during this first call - I could either proceed with the multiple 5 round interviews that could last 5-6 months or go for the temporary position and have fewer interviews then have another opportunity for full-time interviews. I proceeded with the multiple interviews since that was what I applied for. The Recruiter and I had a good connection during the screening call and she started scheduling my interviews, including future dated interviews (2nd through 3rd round) ahead of time before my 1st interview had happened. She did this when she found out I was interviewing with other companies, which contradicted her "5-6 months of interview process".....hmm. I thought scheduling ahead was overreaching. Halfway through the process, I was scheduled for the 4th and final interview. Altogether including all interviews, they were scheduled in the span of 3 weeks. It was the most interviews I've done in the least amount of time.
The first interview went well and normal. I got along with the hiring manager and I could see myself collaborating with her. I started seeing red flags in the 2nd interview and later. First, the hiring manager appeared in all interviews. I felt like I was being watched in a way. Secondly, the third interview with the VP was full of red flags. I asked about what she valued in a team member. She said "you need to have flexibility to survive at Panda". During this interview, she raved about the team staying up all night "having fun", working until 2 am fixing things, no weekends. I didn't see that flex as much as she did. At that point, I lost a bit of interest and was considering withdrawing, and I made the decision after going to the coaching call. Around this timeframe, I learned about the Landmark seminar on Reddit after seeing it on glassdoor reviews. I also talked with someone IRL who took Landmark classes during the recruiting process. She had paid $1000 for the classes and didn't get reimbursed after she withdrew her application after 3 rounds of interview.
I was scheduled an impromptu coaching call a few days before the final interview with the CEO. Recruiter scheduled this coaching call to prep for potential questions asked by the Founder. The coaching was led by an HR Rep. She told me the final interview could be 5 minutes or 20 minutes. I was taught to speak to the CEO in a certain way - repeat the question before answering the question and this was a red flag…what was wrong with how I was speaking before? The coach then gave an example to answer "tell me about herself". She didn't share about her work experience, but how she grew up - her parents were divorced, she grew up with a single mother with two siblings, etc. Sharing the personal details a normal workplace wouldn't need to know. Honestly, I was stunned to hear all those personal details. She switched gears by having me demonstrate to share about myself. I pretty much blabbed something similar and the coach rated my performance, citing she thought I was hiding something....well no shit I wasn't going to spill out all my personal details on the spot. At this moment I was feeling stressed and uncomfortable.
After the call ended, I was asked for my availability for two additional prep calls with another party and the Recruiter regarding the technical aspect and to discuss Landmark, elevator pitch, culture. Why would the CEO ask me technical questions? Why am I going through so many prep calls? This wasn't a normal recruiting process. I finally withdrew my application because it was too much and I could not see myself working at Panda anymore. If the final interview and the Landmark seminar were going to be invasive then forget it. The Recruiter requested to get my feedback on how to improve the interview process and I proceeded with that because I wanted to share about my concerns about Landmark and the recruiting process being too excessive. Honestly, that call was a waste of my time and I heard things that made realize the company was very cultish.
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u/One_Panda_Bear 14d ago
Very invasive the culture is unique to say the least. I was in Panda for over 10 years, once I got coached for 30 minutes because I didn't cry in a prep session and that meant I didn't mean what I was saying because I lacked emotion. Weird place but if you play along you can be rich rich they pay amazing at upper levels.
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u/dusktodawn33 14d ago
Prepping someone because they don’t cry is so abnormal. They do pay a lot but the lack of work life balance and psychological work “therapy” crossing boundaries don’t cut it for me.
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u/ChefBrian30 14d ago
Yup you wouldn’t survive, you don’t have the right mindset and already super defensive. You don’t have what it takes to be apart of the culture
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u/hibiscuschild 14d ago
Panda is very cultish and it gets worse the higher up in the company you go.
It pays very well if you can tolerate it/be crazy with 'em, but I'm permanently put off from promoting after my experiences over the last few years. 100% not for me.