What I learned interviewing with HubSpot, Mike Volpe and not getting hired

“Volpe wants to meet with her after lunch.”

My ears perked up.

“He likes to meet all the candidates who might join the marketing team. Don’t worry—he usually only stays for 15 minutes or so.”

I felt a lump grow in my throat. The morning of interviews at HubSpot had gone well so far. I had done my “big job interview” homework, I already knew HubSpot, its VAR program and its content team well—and I’m a seasoned writer and editor. There was nothing to be nervous about. Except that I hadn’t prepared to be interviewed by Mike Volpe, then HubSpot’s chief marketing officer.

When Mike Volpe wants to interview you

During lunch, I tried to stay focused on the conversations at the table. Since this would’ve been a cross-country relocation for me, I asked about life in Boston, the best parts of town to live in, where the book nerds typically hung out. But all the while in my mind I was frantically trying to prep for what Mike Volpe could possibly want to discuss.

I assured myself: He probably just wants to meet you because of the sassy email that got you this interview in the first place. He won’t stay long. Thankfully, I had a friend texting me links about questions Mike Volpe asks in interviews, you know, just in case.

I wish I could say there wasn’t a lot riding on this interview, but there was. HubSpot is a tremendously respected company with the brand power to supercharge its employees. I wanted to be part of a wicked smart content team, and I wanted to be friends with HubSpot people because I knew I would become a better writer and editor with all these folks around me.

Much to my surprise, Mike didn’t ask any of the hard-hitting questions I thought he might ask. He asked about writing, about why I loved marketing—and then he listened to my ideas about how HubSpot’s VAR program could be improved, how HubSpot should leverage its sway with larger media outlets and how to capture the attention of c-suite executives. I don’t remember much beyond that. But what I do remember? He talked with me for more than an hour. I remember telling him in a thank you note that he was the “most jovial” MIT grad I’d ever met.

I didn’t actually want to work for HubSpot

A week after my day-long interview on-site with HubSpot, I got a call from a recruiter saying I didn’t get the job for “location” reasons. This was not easy news to hear. But in hindsight, I’m thankful I didn’t get the job. I realize now that I didn’t want to work at HubSpot doing marketing things so much as I wanted to work with people who were truly one of a kind.

It was the people who attracted me to that role, and a hell of a lot can change in a year. I’ve noticed that some of those people have moved around, changed roles, even left the company. Each time, I've wondered whether or not I would've been happy to be at HubSpot. The jury's still out on that one. Yesterday’s news that Mike Volpe is no longer with HubSpot was really tough to hear -- and I asked myself the same question. I'm just not sure.

Lesson learned: Be loyal to people, not companies

I'm not interested in specu-blogging about Volpe's recent departure, but I will say: It’s always wise to read between the lines of carefully crafted corporate press releases. While I'm sure there's plenty of "drama" going on behind the scenes, I think it's important to remember that in life we should always be loyal to people, not companies. I also think it's interesting to note that when a company like HubSpot empowers its employees to grow, no one is catastrophically vulnerable when someone like the CMO leaves. HubSpot is oozing with talented people, and I’m sure Kipp Bodnar will do a great job. In the same light, Mike Volpe didn’t become well-known solely because of HubSpot’s brand behind him. He became who he is because he’s a really smart guy who takes the time to talk with people hoping to be on his team. Best of luck to both of them.