Pax8 interview questions

I need to talk about the interview experience I had with Lou Crossman. I had a first-round interview for a Senior Learning Experience Designer role with Lou at Pax8, and it was honestly one of the best interview experiences I’ve had. Lou asked proper thoughtful questions, not just the usual ones, but ones that made me stop and think about how I work and why I do what I do. It felt like she really wanted me to do well, not just go through the motions. I wasn’t just part of a process, she actually seemed interested in me as a person. The conversation didn’t feel formal or stiff, it felt like a proper chat. And if you’re someone who works in learning and likes doing things differently, it’s rare to be given that kind of space in an interview. Even though I didn’t get through to the next stage, mainly because of where I live, the chat stayed with me. Lou gave me room to just be myself. She listened, she was kind, and I felt like I mattered. I left the interview more confident and honestly a bit proud of how I think. That’s not something you usually get from an interview. Thanks Lou, you made it feel like I belonged, even if I probably talked way too fast, said a few odd things, and went off on a weird Lego metaphor. You still got me. That meant a lot. — Simon

The interview process was quick and well-organized. My initial conversation with the HR representative was excellent—truly one of the best interview experiences I’ve had. Unfortunately, the in-person interview with the hiring manager was quite the opposite. From the moment I arrived, I was informed the interview would be 30 minutes shorter than scheduled, which was unexpected but acceptable. However, the overall interaction with the manager was very disappointing. It felt more like a test designed to trip me up than a professional dialogue. The tone was intimidating, and I got the impression that the manager was more focused on finding flaws than understanding my potential. It also seemed as though they had already decided on another candidate and were simply going through the motions. Even if I had received an offer, I would have declined based on that experience. The feedback I received at the end was that I asked too many questions, and the manager felt I struggled to answer without seeking additional information. I found that a bit surprising—especially considering one of their questions was, “What kind of outdoor party would you organize for the employees?” Naturally, my first instinct was to clarify key details like the expected headcount, budget, and whether the team prefers active or more relaxed activities. To me, those seem like reasonable follow-up questions to plan something meaningful and appropriate. So I suppose that means I ask “an unreasonable number of questions”—guilty as charged, I guess 😄