I applied online at the Rise Interactive website and recieved an email shortly thereafter asking me to take a skills test at my leisure. I took the test- pretty easy, just basic algebra disguised as marketing and a couple verbal questions. After that, I waited a few days and received another email asking to set up a phone interview. I set up the interview, but when the day came, did not receive a phone call at the expected time! (9:00am) Finally, around 9:45, I called the HR person I set up the interview with, thinking I had done something wrong or made some mistake with scheduling. However, I was informed that the person's, "boss had stepped in," and she had, "totally forgetten to call me." I was a little annoyed, but she promised to call at 10:00. At around 10:15, she called and we had the interview.
It was very basic, just basic questions and information about the position, including salary information. They told me the position is salaried at $20k until you are moved into a consulting position after 4 months, which then moves you to about $35k. I was ok with that, even though it's a big pay cut for me for the first few months. I was told to keep in touch with the HR person as they only hire a few people every month. She told me to contact her around the middle of the next month.
When that date rolled around, I emailed her asking about the position. I waited, and waited, and waited some more. After about a week, I called and left her a voicemail. I then waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, I received an email from a DIFFERENT HR person, saying that they had noticed I had taken the skills test and would like to set up a phone interview. I emailed back saying I had already been through that process, but would be happy to do another interview. The new person acted kind of confused and annoyed. (I would be too, if my co-worker had not notified me of what was going on.) She told me that that would not be necessary, and we set up an in-person interview after about another week of waiting for a response on my end.
The in-person interview was very basic; she didn't even ask me much about my experience. She used basic get-to-know-you questions, which I thought I answered very well. She told me that she had to talk things over with the marketing teams as they are the ones that pick the final candidates and, if I was chosen, we would do another interview. After about a week, I had not heard anything, so I sent an email asking if any decisions had been made. Two weeks later, I still had not heard anything, so I called and left a voicemail. About a week after that, she left me a voicemail saying she still had to go over my application with the teams. A few days later, she called me with a rejection. I also received an email rejection with some resources for job-hunters in Chicago.
In all, the process was extremely disorganized, and I felt I had to do most of the work for the HR people. After two months of chasing them around, I was disappointed with a rejection, but I feel I may not have wanted to work for such a disorganized place. If you are applying and waiting for a response, don't hold your breath.