Real, anonymous reports from people who interviewed for Software Engineer at WestRock, newest first and distilled into what to expect across the loop.
My path started pretty casually. I got the interview through a university career fair, and the first conversation was on Zoom. It felt low-pressure from the start, with interviewers who were nice and interested in getting to know me. The questions leaned basic and behavioral.
Most of what I dealt with centered on behavioral signals. HR and a supervisor were part of the interview, and the questions were designed to pull out how I’d handled engineering-related experiences. The format felt fairly standard: I talked through my background, and then moved into STAR-style responses.
The interview process typically involves multiple conversations, including panel interviews with peers and management, and often includes a mix of HR and technical perspectives. The format is generally conversational, allowing candidates to engage in a dialogue rather than feeling interrogated.
Candidates can expect a strong emphasis on behavioral questions, often structured around the STAR method, aimed at assessing interpersonal skills, cultural fit, and past experiences rather than deep technical knowledge. Questions often explore how candidates handle real-world situations and align with company values.
The overall vibe of the interviews is described as friendly and low-pressure, with interviewers showing genuine interest in candidates as individuals. This positive environment helps candidates feel more at ease during the process.
Interviewers often emphasize the importance of alignment with the company's mission and values, focusing on how candidates would fit into the organizational culture and contribute to the team dynamics.
While some interviews may touch on industry-specific topics, the overall expectation is not to demonstrate niche technical expertise but rather to connect past experiences to the role's requirements and show reliability and independence.
Candidates frequently report not receiving offers but express that the interview process felt constructive and worth their time, often leaving with a better understanding of the role and what they need to improve for future applications.