Gong's recruitment team is world-class! It's important to note, that Gong gets an insane number of applicants, so to just get an interview is a major win. Initially, I applied for an Account Executive role but did not get the interview. What impressed me was that I received a personalized note from Elizabeth (Liz) Koppel letting me know they're moving forward with other applicants, which is more than most companies would do. The majority just send you an automated message saying "they're moving forward with other candidates." I e-mailed Liz back to ask if she would be willing to set up a quick informative call to discuss ways I could stand out, in the event I wanted to apply again.
To my surprise, she was willing! She went the extra mile to set up a call with me, and through that call, she directed me to try the SDR route and went so far to even introduce me to their recruiter, Kelly Adams. Kelly is a rockstar in her own right, she has a knack for keeping the conversation light and making you feel comfortable as she screens you. She was able to get deep insight on my background through what felt more like a conversation than interview, and that was what made her special.
Within the week, I got set up with the hiring manager Jared Smith, who was also a great interviewer. The call seemed to be more about getting to know me as an individual, and getting more insight about the role itself. He did ask some basic interview questions like why Gong, what challenge have you overcame, and what about your background makes you feel that you’re a good fit for the SDR role. At the end he provided guidance on how to do well in the mock presentation, and I could tell he wanted to see me do well.
The mock presentation was where I ran into trouble. So, if you’re reading this, pay attention. Firstly, you want to prepare thoroughly! They provide you a guide on what the scenario is, and a rubric that you will be “graded on.” Kelly provided a list of Gongsters to reach out to if you have any questions, so you will want to set up your calls. My mistake was that I reached out to these individuals (Eric Johnson (my referall), Sam Kozhebrodsky, EJ Eital) to ask them questions about them, the job, and the future as opposed to asking them if they would be willing to listen to my mock pitch. They did an amazing job and helping me and spent a generous amount of time to try and help me. If I was to do it all over, I would begin writing out the mock script as soon as I received the prompt and resources, that way it would be ready for practice with an actual Gongster. Do not make it so the mock presentation, ends up being your practice, no matter how many times you do it in your head it’s not the same as face-to-face.
That said, you will be doing a mock with two decision makers, mine was Nadeen Jubran and Parker Eide via zoom. Be prepared for this, as 2 on 1 is a different feel than 1 on 1. With that, my nerves got to me and I underperformed which is why I didn’t get to move forward in the process. However, I have to say, it is professionals like these two that made me want to work for Gong. The way they delivered feedback was solution-oriented and based strictly on research. It was refreshing to hear their observations on what I could have done better, as their assessment was lining up precisely with much of what I have read in Gong Labs. The consistency from Gong’s research to their evaluation illustrates to me that Gong does not just say “Win as a Team” -- it is evident they live it.
My experience in the recruitment process has convinced me that Gong will grow to be a titan. They have the product, they have the talent, and most importantly they have the culture that has the means and drive to get to where they want to go. They will make it, and hopefully with this review, you will too! Best of luck!
