Victoria Kelly has been with Hawkes Learning since 2018 and is the person the company talks to about customer service issues. She is skilled and knowledgeable in many areas of the business, from working with student ambassadors to talking to clients and coming up with creative ways to improve customer relations.
As the Customer Experience Coordinator, it’s no surprise that she knows a lot about customer service. She’s also a great representative for Hawkes Learning and a great resource for people who want to work there. As an ambassador, Victoria was recently asked to be on a Business Ninjas podcast to talk more about Hawkes and the future plans for the company.
So, Victoria, what does it feel like to work at Hawkes Learning? We asked her a few questions to find out, and this is what she said:
Getting hired at an innovative education technology company like Hawkes Learning is no easy feat. With its rigorous hiring process and emphasis on finding candidates that fit its mission and values you need to come prepared to showcase your qualifications.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 15 most common Hawkes Learning interview questions, providing tips and sample responses to help you nail your upcoming interview.
Overview of Hawkes Learning’s Interview Process
Hawkes Learning is selective in its hiring, using a multi-stage interview process designed to thoroughly assess candidates Here’s what you can expect
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Phone screening: 30-45 minute call with HR or hiring manager covering basic qualifications.
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In-person interviews: 1-3 rounds of in-depth interviews, often including technical assessments.
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Aptitude and personality tests: You may be asked to complete tests measuring IQ, Excel skills, cognitive abilities, and personality fit.
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Reference and background checks: Hawkes verifies education, employment history and contacts references.
The overall process can take 4-8 weeks. While rigorous, it’s because Hawkes Learning values hiring the right talent. Come prepared to demonstrate your skills and commitment to education.
Top 15 Hawkes Learning Interview Questions
Let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions:
1. Why do you want to work at Hawkes Learning?
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Focus on the company’s commitment to innovation in education technology and mastery-based learning.
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Highlight aspects of the mission that resonate with your values and passions.
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Provide specific examples of products or initiatives that excite you. Convey your alignment with the company vision.
2. What experience do you have with educational software or courseware?
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Detail specific projects, products or roles related to developing educational software and content.
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Discuss experiences integrating technology effectively into learning.
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Share outcomes demonstrating your impact, whether improved test scores, product adoption rates, or learner engagement.
3. How would you handle a client resistant to a product demonstration or sales pitch?
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Emphasize listening to understand their concerns before attempting to persuade. Building trust is key.
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Explain how you would tailor your pitch to appeal to their needs/pain points rather than just selling features.
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Share examples of turning resistant clients into satisfied long-term customers.
4. Tell me about a time you successfully simplified a complex concept or process.
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Choose an example demonstrating your communication and teaching skills.
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Explain techniques you used like analogies, visuals, examples etc. that made the concept relatable.
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Share positive feedback received and the impact of making the material understandable and engaging.
5. How do you stay up-to-date on product knowledge and use it to improve customer satisfaction?
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Give examples of proactive learning strategies like training, demos, reading.
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Share instances of applying your product expertise to resolve issues or make recommendations.
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Emphasize using feedback to continuously expand your knowledge.
6. Have you developed any innovative educational products or features?
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Choose an example demonstrating your creativity and problem-solving.
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Explain the need your product or feature addressed and your systematic design process.
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Share tangible outcomes like enhanced learner engagement, test performance, or product adoption.
7. Describe your experience with educational standards and designing aligned curriculum.
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Demonstrate deep knowledge of major educational frameworks and standards.
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Discuss your curriculum design process, ensuring alignment and customization.
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Share examples of standards-aligned products or content you created.
8. Tell me about a time you successfully led a team or project. What challenges did you face?
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Choose an example demonstrating leadership, problem-solving and communication skills.
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Discuss challenges encountered and how you worked to address them proactively.
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Share outcomes showing effective collaboration, project delivery, and stakeholder satisfaction.
9. How do you ensure quality and accuracy when developing educational content or products?
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Emphasize collaborating with subject matter experts throughout the design process.
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Discuss your review and feedback collection strategies to identify areas for improvement.
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Share processes like pilot testing content and rapid iteration based on user input.
10. Tell me about a time you adapted quickly to a new technology or process. How did you get up to speed?
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Share an example of you rapidly acquiring a technical skill or process knowledge.
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Discuss techniques like online learning, seeking mentorship, hands-on practice.
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Emphasize adaptability, proactive learning, and the positive impact on team or company.
11. How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple projects with tight deadlines?
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Discuss tools and frameworks used like prioritization matrices and workplans.
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Share your focus on critical path activities and leveraging team capabilities.
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Provide examples of successfully balancing priorities amidst competing deadlines.
12. Describe a time you made a data-driven decision. What was the business impact?
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Explain your analytical approach and tools used like statistical models or data visualization.
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Share a specific decision driven by data analysis that improved KPIs like conversion rates, sales, or costs.
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Quantify the business impact as much as possible to demonstrate analytical rigor.
13. Tell me about a challenging work situation and how you handled it.
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Choose an example demonstrating problem-solving, critical thinking and resilience.
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Explain the systematic approach you took to understand root causes and address issues.
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Share the positive outcome and learnings that improved your leadership skills.
14. Why should we hire you over other candidates?
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Match your background, skills and values to the company’s needs.
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Provide specific examples of achievements that would contribute to the role.
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Convey passion for the company mission and genuine interest in the position.
15. Do you have any questions for me?
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Ask thoughtful questions that show your understanding of the company and role.
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Inquire about challenges, training opportunities, company culture and growth potential.
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Avoid questions about salary or benefits unless brought up by the interviewer.
How to Prepare for a Hawkes Learning Interview
Here are some tips to get ready for your big day:
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Research the company: Study their products, initiatives, vision and culture.
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Practice answering questions: Rehearse your responses out loud to polish your delivery.
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Review your resume: Refresh yourself on your skills, achievements and qualifications.
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Prepare questions to ask: Draft thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest.
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Get a good night’s sleep: Being well-rested will help you focus and remain calm.
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Review the interview location: Test your commute to avoid getting delayed or stressed day-of.
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Dress professionally: Appearance reflects preparation and attention to detail.
By understanding common questions and priorities, preparing thoroughly, and emphasizing your skills, passion and cultural fit, you’ll be ready to have a stellar interview with Hawkes Learning. Best of luck!
What Problems Does Hawkes Solve?
Student success is our passion and what drives everything we do. Dr. Hawkes is a statistician and taught at the College of Charleston for over 20 years. When Dr. Hawkes started the company because he thought students should be able to interact with their learning materials more and be helped to really understand the material, not just use it to finish their homework for the day. The Mastery approach was used with our materials by him, and no matter what subject a Hawkes teacher is teaching, the materials will be presented in a way that is meant to help the student really master the learning goals.
Efficiency is another thing that really interests them. Whether they’re going over homework or grading tests and quizzes, the instructor side of Hawkes wants to make things easier for teachers compared to the old way of doing things, which was to grade homework by hand.
Lastly, we know that learning to use a new software can feel intimidating. We offer great support so that both students and teachers know they are cared for at all times during their time at Hawkes.
What Makes Hawkes Stand Out From the Competition:
We really stand out in the ed-tech industry in two main ways: our mastery approach and our concierge-level customer service. I think Hawkes is the only company that can do these things better.
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