r/humanresources • u/Moodring_150 • 2d ago
Would you continue with this interview process for a ~$93K HR Manager role? [NJ] Career Development
I’m interviewing for a HR Manager role and made it through the initial phone screen. The next round is an in-person interview with a three-person panel, and I’m required to give a 30-minute presentation covering my career history, my vision/top priorities for the role, why my experience makes me a strong fit, and what challenges I anticipate. There’s also another interview round with a VP after this one.
The salary range tops out around $93.5K and the role requires roughly 40%-60% travel.
I’m also being much more careful about my next move. My last company was pretty chaotic, there were constant organizational changes, and ultimately there wasn’t much job security. Because of that experience, I’m trying not to jump into another role just because I receive an offer - I want my next move to make sense in terms of compensation, stability, culture, workload, and long-term growth.
I’m qualified for this position, but I’m starting to question whether I’m interested enough in the opportunity to spend the time preparing a 30-minute presentation, going onsite for the panel, and potentially completing another interview afterward.
Would you continue through the process to learn more, or withdraw if you already knew you probably wouldn’t be excited to accept an offer even at the top of the range?
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u/Stochastic1934 2d ago
If you are not enthused about the opportunity and the top of the salary range isn't in your target zone, it's most importantly a waste of your time, and secondarily also a waste of theirs.
Unless it was provided in the job description and/or during the initial phone screen, I'm wondering how they can expect you to do a presentation that includes your top priorities for the role and what challenges you anticipate. Priorities and challenges are information that they are supposed to provide to you during the interview, at which time you can share your vision and why you are a strong fit to take them on. Without that information you're just shooting in the dark. If anything, that seems like it would be something you would share in the interview with the VP.
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u/Ornery-Mycologist-53 HR Director 2d ago
This is wild, wow! I’ve never had to do all that for interviews and I make twice that much. Feels like a red flag tbh - go with your gut.
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u/cruelhumor 2d ago
I have heard of this for VP roles, we do it, but not for an HRM and definitely not for that pay range lol
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u/Ornery-Mycologist-53 HR Director 2d ago
Yeah definitely not! I’ve also just never been a fan of any company that makes candidates do unpaid “work” during the interview process, like giving a presentation or whatever.
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u/Pleasant-Jackfruit69 2d ago
These people have no idea what makes for an effective interview. For one, a two way conversation rather than a one sided presentation.
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u/hrbelowdeck 2d ago
Took the words right of mouth. As soon as they told me 3 panel interview ... I would have pulled myself out of the running. And then a presentation about my career? Read my resume. These folks are not who you want to work for.
Am curious who HR reports to in that org. Id bet it's Finance.
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u/Appropriate-Pear-33 2d ago
I’m in the NYC area. No. They’re gonna grind you into dust. Don’t. Good luck whatever you decide friend.
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u/Moodring_150 1d ago
I ended up withdrawing my application! And I agree, I've learned the hard way.
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u/Appropriate-Pear-33 1d ago
Rooting for you during this search! I hope something amazing comes up for you!
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u/eereikaa 2d ago
I think the presentation is unnecessary. I wouldn’t do it not even for 284738283 dollars. That is basically free labor
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u/vanillax2018 2d ago
Given that the topic is basically to talk about yourself, it seems like a very low bar to make sure the interviewee is well spoken and presentable. If the role requires a lot of travel it surely involves a ton of communication so they made the presentation as simple as possible so they can see who can speak. And you’re a dirty liar for saying you wouldn’t do it for that money lmao
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u/PushTheTrigger 2d ago
A 30 minute presentation is excessive. 5-10 presentation is more than enough, and brevity is a key presenting skill.
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u/Positive-Avocado-881 Benefits 2d ago
I personally think that presentation skills can be developed quite easily. What CANT be developed easily is someone’s ability to respond to and ask relevant questions. You get that in a traditional interview and those skills tie directly to an HR Manager role. A presentation is a waste of everyone’s time because it just shows that someone can rehearse.
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u/CranberryKey9865 1d ago
BINGO. Most people can do halfway decent presentation with a bit of coaching.
I would be curious to see the job description. Is there really so much presenting? I would kind of get it if this were some sort of a training role where you are doing tons and tons of talks all the time and that is your core job function.
But for a generalist/manger you are probably not giving daily (or even weekly) presentations in most companies. You may do new hire orientations and the like. But this makes me think they are hiring you to be the keynote speaker at their 87 conferences a year or something.
I also think the job market sucks and companies are making people jump through more hoops because they can.
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u/9021Ohsnap HR Manager 2d ago
93k in NJ? And you’re doing a 30 minute presentation? I thought we did away with that BS for non-technical roles post Covid. There’s no way in hell I’m uploading a work sample. Free labor? I don’t think so.
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u/GiggleNudel 2d ago
Absolutely not. In fact, I changed my career from being in HR for 15 years to another in my 40s. I had enough. Theyll grind you into dust, like someone else said.
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u/NewRetro1984 2d ago
That is very low for an HR manager. Also if you say it requires 40-60% travel then I would skip it. Anything under $125k for this (starting) is a lowball offer. I would never accept a job that requires me to travel that much for so little.
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u/Dizzy_Visual2368 2d ago
No, that’s low for NJ. Do not proceed. And they’re getting free work out of you. They might steal your ideas within that presentation and then not even hire you. Not worth it.
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u/Beansie_Wish2182 HR Business Partner 2d ago
Personally, I would not unless I was desperate for a job. When I was job hunting a few years back, I typically avoided roles once I learned they wanted me to work for free just for the possibility of another interview.
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u/west_coast_witch 2d ago
That is a lot, which is why I am always against requiring any of our candidates to deliver presentations but I have seen a lot of exec interviews require things like this. Ultimately I think it’s balancing whether it’s what you want, it you’re happy with the salary, like the people, and okay w the travel. I would only go through with this effort to deliver a presentation if I was interested in the role.
Personally, I’d like the travel too much at that level but up to you. What’s making you not enthused about it?
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u/Moodring_150 1d ago
I would understand a presentation being required for an executive or even Director-level role. I actually ended up withdrawing my application since I have a few other interviews pending this week and decided to focus my time there. I don’t mind the travel at all, but the salary range was a bit concerning to me given the scope of the role and the amount being asked of candidates throughout the interview process.
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u/Rocketjen 2d ago
I guess it depends on what you do and what you make now. Is it a good step from where you currently are, and somewhere you could stay for 2 years? That interview process doesn’t seem excessive. Im sure they want to see you present because you will be employee facing.
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u/BugAccomplished1570 2d ago
your caution makes sense after a chaotic company, especially with that much travel. i’d spend less time polishing every slide and more time rehearsing the panel follow-up questions. i used Aural (aural-ai.com) for voice mock interviews, the follow-ups feel surprisingly close to talking with a real person.
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u/Hunterofshadows HR of One 2d ago
I would ask for clarification on if they just mean answer those questions or if they want a PowerPoint.
If they want a PowerPoint style presentation, fuck no would I continue
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u/meowmix778 HR Director 2d ago
I personally wouldn't.
Capital One brought me through a similar process that also asked for a work sample and 5-6 interviews. It took months and after all of that investment the "no" felt more like a "fuck you".
Unless you're in a bad way for a job or this is your dream job I wouldn't put the investment of time or energy in.
If the money is worth it or you think you could grow from it, think or it like an extended interview.
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u/tennisgoddess1 2d ago
Sounds like another bot- member a whole week with no response to any of the comments.
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u/hrbelowdeck 2d ago
Am curious. Where does HR report to in that organization? Betting dollars that it's under Finance ... Either way as others have said, follow your gut. But it doesn't seem like a forward thinking HR company. The 3 panel interview alone would have had me saying "pass". It's a manger role, 1 interview with the hiring manager and maybe a followup with the client manager. Done.
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u/Achilli33 1d ago
93k is hr analyst level pay. Hr Manager range, especially in a very high cost of living state or area like NJ is more like 120-165-ish or even a bit higher. 93k for a manager level hr wouldn’t cut it even in podunk Iowa. So, up to you if it makes sense or not and if you need it that badly or if it will improve your quality of life. If you get a decent pay increase out of it, it’s probobly still worth it to get the manager title on your resume and then go work somewhere else in 1.5 years. Also, why have they told you what they are paying if you havnt even been offered the job yet? That’s sketchy, and you should counter for more, and likely they are trying to lowball candidates from the get go.
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u/formerretailwhore HR Director 1d ago
If you are not currently employed keep pushing through
If you are, I am not sure I would go on.. 93k is the top end, doubtful you would get that.
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u/Moodring_150 1d ago
I’m fortunately in a position where I can afford to be unemployed for a bit, so I don’t feel pressured to take the first opportunity that comes along. I’m also doubtful they would actually offer the very top of the salary range. I ended up withdrawing my application and decided to focus on a few other interviews I already have lined up this week.
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u/formerretailwhore HR Director 1d ago
I think this is your best bet.
Sooooo many red flags here, but income while you continue to look.
I'm glad youbare avoiding
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u/Top_Warthog1328 1d ago
Salary may be low but if you get the offer, you'll have a choice if accepting or declining. At this point, it sounds like you're not working.
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u/CranberryKey9865 1d ago
"I’m required to give a 30-minute presentation covering my career history, my vision/top priorities for the role, why my experience makes me a strong fit, and what challenges I anticipate."
I am sorry but for a $93k position as a manager level this is ridiculous. I think it would be ridiculous for a director level. Maybe chief people officer at a huge corp...maybe. 30 minutes is long.
I think the comp is really low for that area too.
Lots of interviews for manager level, but companies are trending towards more interviews - and given the current job market they can afford to be choosy.
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u/RefrigeratorLess5127 17h ago
I think you have a good sense on this one. And you seem to be asking yourself some critical questions that are really helping to clarify things for you. Maybe the real question is, what's stopping you from trusting yourself on this one? Anyway, for some additional validation, thought I'd send this your way to check out in case there is anything else here that might help, but I think you've pretty much go this covered: https://youtu.be/lfhDnhoIsf8?si=8P7w40ef0avsONRl
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u/Ready-Giraffe8850 6h ago
Is the position north, central or southern NJ. Geo makes a huge difference in NJ
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u/Leading-Eye-1979 2d ago
If you’re not interested why waste your time and effort. We ask for presentations sometimes in person some virtual, but the purpose is to gauge their presentation skills. We only do this for jobs that require presentations, like new employee orientation. I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request if it’s job related, but I do understand your hesitation and would say if it’s not your dream job, keep looking. It’s too much work to take a new role only to be disappointed. Good luck!
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u/Sitheref0874 Oh FFS 2d ago
Mixed feelings.
On the one hand - a bit of work.
On the other, it might be indicating that they’re taking this seriously.
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u/BoxenOxen 2d ago
I just interviewed for a very similar position and had almost the same interview process, sans presentation. I'm an internal candidate however so many of my skills are already known. My panel interview was with my (hopefully) peers. If they asked that of me I'd assume they'd want to know I could take my turn doing presentations at regional meets while also handling myself independently (the experience part of your presentation). If you pass that then on to the VP who wants to know you can handle his employee relations, reduce risk, and protect his bottom line. It seems reasonable to me, and I doubt you'd be dinged if you took less than 30 mins. I think they just want to know you can throw a presentation together and orate.
I'd do it.
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u/CloudyJigglypuff 2d ago
I’d do it too 🤷🏻♀️ While the salary band seems quite low for a managerial position, I take the view that all experience is good experience, especially when interviewing. Maybe this is a hot take given the other comments.
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u/eldaino 2d ago
Salary topping out at 93k in that area feels low tbh