Welcome to The Quality Makers, an interview series highlighting pioneers in the direct-to-consumer space. Come with us as we look at the world of online shopping through the eyes of the people who are making it happen.
When I first read about KiwiCo, a subscription box that was made to “celebrate kids’ natural creativity and curiosity while helping parents who want to give their kids enriching experiences,” I was immediately interested. As parents, we’re always looking for fun and educational things to do with our kids. And let’s be honest, it’s always nice to have someone else do the work.
KiwiCo is all about science, art, and new ideas. They have subscription boxes for babies and kids ages 0 to 12 and a storefront full of one-time kits and educational toys. And hereâs the best part: itâs all totally custom to your childâs interest and skills. Does your little one love cooking? This Science of Cooking: Mini Cakes kit ($34. 95) would be a perfect birthday gift. Budding gardener? Check out the Plant Bundle pack ($28. 82) and watch them grow their very own snap peas. Tiny musician? Homemade Wind Chimes ($27. 95) are a great place to start. Super into dinosaurs? Why not try the Paleontologist Starter kit ($29. 95)? I could go on and on, but you get the point. This brand is great, and we couldn’t wait to talk to founder Sandra Oh Lin about it.
Kiwico is a beloved educational subscription box company that focuses on sparking creativity and fostering a love of learning in children. With their innovative hands-on projects that teach science, art, and engineering skills, Kiwico has made a real impact in the world of education.
As Kiwico continues to grow, competition for jobs there has intensified. Kiwico seeks creative, passionate, and innovative people who are aligned with their mission of inspiring children. Doing well in your Kiwico interview is crucial to show that you’re the right fit.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share the 10 most common Kiwico interview questions along with proven strategies to prepare winning answers. With insights into Kiwico’s hiring process, interview format, and company values, you’ll gain the knowledge needed to land your dream role at this purpose-driven brand.
Overview of Kiwico’s Interview Process
The typical Kiwico interview process consists of:
- An initial phone screening with HR
- Completion of a relevant assignment or project sample
- Multiple rounds of in-person interviews, often with different departments
- Reference checks
The process is rigorous and selective, typically taking several weeks from start to offer. There are often reports of poor communication during the hiring process, with long waits between interview rounds.
However, the focus is on finding candidates whose skills, personality, and values align with Kiwico’s mission. With preparation, passion, and persistence, you can succeed at every step and prove you’re the right fit.
10 Common Kiwico Interview Questions
Let’s dive into the top 10 most frequently asked questions at Kiwico interviews
1. Why do you want to work at Kiwico?
This question gauges your passion for their mission. Interviewers want to see that you’re intrinsically motivated to help nurture children’s creativity and education
Tips:
- Research Kiwico’s origins, products, and company values thoroughly.
- Share specific examples of how Kiwico’s mission resonates with you personally.
- Convey authentic enthusiasm for bringing hands-on learning to children.
2. Tell me about a time you solved a design challenge creatively.
Kiwico prioritizes innovation, so expect behavioral questions like this that assess your creative problem-solving abilities.
Tips:
- Choose an example that highlights your resourcefulness and design skills.
- Walk through your process from identifying the challenge to implementing the solution.
- Emphasize how you incorporated user perspectives and feedback.
3. What experience do you have managing or leading teams?
Collaboration is key at Kiwico, so leadership and teamwork experience are valued.
Tips:
- Highlight skills like communication, mediation, and mentoring.
- Share examples of helping teams overcome challenges to meet goals.
- Focus on times you improved team productivity or morale.
4. How do you stay up-to-date on educational trends and innovations?
Kiwico needs people who are passionate about learning and education.
Tips:
- Demonstrate your curiosity and commitment to continuous learning.
- Discuss the books, blogs, conferences, and other resources you engage with.
- Share examples of implementing new educational approaches.
5. How would you test a new product concept with children?
User testing is critical for Kiwico’s products. This assesses your understanding of design research methods.
Tips:
- Highlight approaches like focus groups, surveys, and prototyping.
- Emphasize child development knowledge and adapting methods to different ages.
- Share how you’d incorporate user feedback into final product designs.
6. Tell me about a time you significantly improved a process or system.
This question tests your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Tips:
- Choose an example that highlights your analytical skills.
- Walk through how you identified issues and implemented solutions.
- Share quantifiable results like productivity or quality gains.
7. What do you know about Kiwico and our products?
This straightforward question checks your passion and knowledge of the company.
Tips:
- Thoroughly research Kiwico’s history, mission, leadership, and product lines.
- Highlight specific products that appeal to you and why.
- Share how you think Kiwico products enrich children’s education.
8. How would you resolve a disagreement with a colleague while maintaining a good relationship?
Kiwico wants team players who can communicate effectively.
Tips:
- Discuss conflict resolution strategies like active listening, finding common ground, and compromise.
- Share an example of resolving a disagreement successfully.
- Emphasize maintaining mutual understanding and respect.
9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
This evaluates your career aspirations and fit with Kiwico’s growth trajectory.
Tips:
- Express your desire to grow professionally at Kiwico long-term.
- Share relevant skills and interests you hope to develop in the role.
- Align your goals with Kiwico’s mission and needs.
10. Do you have any questions for me?
Kiwico wants people who are truly engaged and excited to join the team.
Tips:
- Ask thoughtful questions that show your interests, values, and fit with the role.
- Inquire about professional development opportunities, company culture, leadership’s vision, etc.
- Avoid questions answered on Kiwico’s website or too personal.
With preparation centered around these common questions, you’ll showcase the creativity, passion, and strategic thinking that Kiwico seeks in top candidates.
How to Prepare for the Kiwico Interview Process
Beyond practicing answers to likely interview questions, how else can you prepare for a successful Kiwico interview experience?
Research the Company Thoroughly
Immerse yourself in learning about Kiwico’s origins, mission, culture, leadership, and products. Follow their blog and social media to gain insights. This knowledge will help you engage intelligently with interviewers.
Highlight Your Passion for Education
Kiwico wants to see your intrinsic motivation to enrich children’s learning. Study their educational philosophy and be prepared to articulate how it energizes you. Share relevant experiences from past jobs, academics, or volunteering.
Polish Your Portfolio
For creative roles, having a stellar portfolio is key. Curate your best work, especially projects relevant to Kiwico’s products and branding. Be ready to discuss your process and design choices.
Practice Behavioral Interviewing
Many Kiwico questions will assess your competencies through behavioral interviewing. Brainstorm stories that highlight skills like creative problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and work ethic.
Prepare Thoughtful Questions
Interviewers will ask if you have any questions. Develop a list that demonstrates your interests, values, and fit. Inquire about company culture, training, leadership’s vision, etc.
With dedicated preparation, you can master the Kiwico interview and launch an inspiring career with this purpose-driven company. Approach the process with passion, patience, and persistence. Soon you may have the opportunity to make a real difference in nurturing children’s curiosity and potential.
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Welcome to The Quality Makers, an interview series highlighting pioneers in the direct-to-consumer space. Come with us as we look at the world of online shopping through the eyes of the people who are making it happen.
When I first read about KiwiCo, a subscription box that was made to “celebrate kids’ natural creativity and curiosity while helping parents who want to give their kids enriching experiences,” I was immediately interested. As parents, we’re always looking for fun and educational things to do with our kids. And let’s be honest, it’s always nice to have someone else do the work.
With science, art and innovation at its epicenter, KiwiCo offers subscription crates for babies and kids from 0-12+ years old and has a storefront full of one-off kits and educational toys. And hereâs the best part: itâs all totally custom to your childâs interest and skills. Does your little one love cooking? This Science of Cooking: Mini Cakes kit ($34.95) would be a perfect birthday gift. Budding gardener? Check out the Plant Bundle pack ($28.82) and watch them grow their very own snap peas. Tiny musician? Homemade Wind Chimes ($27.95) are a great place to start. Super into dinosaurs? Why not try the Paleontologist Starter kit ($29.95)? I could go on and on, but you get the point. This brand is awesome, and we were stoked to sit down with founder Sandra Oh Lin to hear more.
Credit: KiwiCo
Credit: KiwiCo
Credit: KiwiCo
Credit: KiwiCo
Sandra: I made things and tried new things as a child, especially with my mom, who could make something out of nothing. Iâm also an engineer by training. So when I became a mom, I knew I wanted to do the same thing with my kids: get them to be creative and learn by doing. I wanted them to build their creative confidence and problem solving skills.
It was hard for me to plan and make fun, hands-on projects for my kids as often as I would have liked because I was a busy parent (like all of us!). When my kids had play dates, I would make art projects and experiments for them to do. Many of their parents told me I should turn my creativity and engineering background into a business, which is how KiwiCo came to be! With a background in consumer products and technology/ecommerce from Procter & Gamble,
Sandra: Thereâs a temptation when starting a brand to want to do so many things at once. We wanted to be very clear about our goals and instructions. We knew we wanted to give kids fun and educational experiences through moments of discovery and make it easier and more convenient for parents to access those experiences. So, we thought about starting a monthly service that would bring science and art ideas to kids’ doors in a fun way. We’ve added nine different lines to the KiwiCo subscription boxes over the years. These let kids learn about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) through a range of interests and lenses, such as food and cooking, geography and travel, arts and crafts, engineering and building, chemistry and electronics, and more.
Sandy: One of my favorite things about working in direct-to-consumer is getting to know the kids and parents who order from KiwiCo. Their feedback helps us figure out what they like and what we can make to keep meeting their needs. It’s helped us make many business decisions along the way. We also enjoy trying out new ways to give people enriching experiences. Our subscription service is a big part of that, as are our ready-to-play items that can be bought one-time, our KiwiCo Press books, our KiwiCo Shop in Mountain View, CA, and community projects like Camp KiwiCo, a virtual summer camp we started during the pandemic.
Sandra: In addition to communicating directly with our customers on a regular basis, we engage with them in a variety of other ways, too. We share enriching ideas for families across social media channels like Instagram and YouTube â a fun example is the Marble Run Challenge that we launched during the pandemic where we challenged families around the world to create their own marble run with things around the home and share those videos with us. During the pandemic, we also launched Camp KiwiCo, a virtual learning camp paired with KiwiCo experiences. More recently, we launched our first store in Mountain View, where kids and their parents can explore KiwiCo in real life, which has been a really fantastic experience. We also engage our customers in our product development, including bringing kids in each week to test out the newest KiwiCo experiences weâre dreaming up in the workshop!
Sandra: Our team has made over 2,000 hands-on projects for kids since KiwiCo began in 2011. All of them have to be incredibly fun and educational. To make sure that every KiwiCo product meets those standards, we come up with ideas, build prototypes, and test them (with the help of our kid testers!). And our products are not just products, but experiences for kids and families. We expect those experiences to provide quality time together â making, creating, learning. We also make sure that KiwiCoas projects are made with the best non-toxic materials, like beechwood and paints and finishes that are water-based, and that they are always free of lead, BPA, and phthalates. Each KiwiCo crate also comes with magazines and guides that show kids and adults all the different ways they can play with KiwiCo projects. This way, everyone can get the most out of the experience.
Sandra: I like seeing how companies use commerce and content to give their community more and share their brand with new people. It’s been interesting to see how brands use new channels like TikTok and YouTube Shorts to get people to know about them, interact with them, and have fun.
Sandra: We have so many! Our highest level vision is to inspire the next generation of innovators, and we see so many ways to do that. In the past year, weâve expanded KiwiCoâs offerings to now not only include our subscription lines, but a variety of ready-to-play offerings for one-off purchase as well â likeBaking and Fractions, our Professions Kits that help kids explore what itâs like to be a veterinarian, marine biologist, paleontologist, and more, the Froggie Dissection Lab plushie, and many more. Weâre also increasingly partnering with schools and learning groups across the country to bring learning concepts to life. Weâre also hoping to expand distribution this year â we launched our first store this year, and would love to partner with more retailers in the future to get KiwiCo experiences into kidsâ hands the world over.
It is possible for kids to use tweezers to look at and learn more about the frog’s major organs inside the Froggie Dissection Lab.
Sandra:
- Hats for big trucks: My family and I spend a lot of time outside, whether we’re playing at the park, hiking, or watching a game. A good hat keeps us cool. Everyone in our family of five has at least one Big Truck hat.
- Maya Brenner initial necklaces: My sister gave me this necklace as a gift, and I love it. It broke at one point, but getting it fixed was so easy that it made me love the brand and company even more. Iâve now given these as gifts to my friends.
- Aquaphor: in all shapes and sizes. We were first given Aquaphor to help my teens’ dry skin when they were babies. We all use it now to treat dry skin, especially in the winter. Through the whole year, my daughter and I always have a small lip tube with us.
- Kiwi Crate: This subscription was fun for years for my older two kids, who are now teens. My kindergartener is now signed up for this service, and it’s been so much fun to see how happy and excited he gets when he gets his crate in the mail and finds cool, fun things inside every month.
- Trader Joe’s Apple Blossoms: We take these out of the freezer and heat them up quickly when we want a a quick treat. They are so good and so fast to âcook. â .
I donât know about you, but after this, Iâm feeling inspired to sit down with my kids and work on a project together. First up, some Colorful Chemistryâ¦No items found. No items found.No items found.No items found. No items found.No items found.No items found. No items found.No items found.No items found. No items found.
Kids Ask, KiwiCo Engineers Answer | KiwiCo
FAQ
Why do you want to work for KiwiCo?
How to prepare for an interview with the chief operating officer?
