Interview Process Overview for Learning & Development Designer (Contractor) at MasterClass

If you’re preparing for the Learning & Development Designer (Contractor) position at MasterClass, here’s a comprehensive guide based on my experience and insights gathered from others who have interviewed for similar roles. The process focuses on assessing your design skills, experience with learning frameworks, and your ability to create impactful learning experiences that align with MasterClass’s educational goals.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for the Learning & Development Designer (Contractor) position at MasterClass typically involves several stages: a recruiter call, portfolio review, a design exercise, and interviews that assess your educational design principles, collaboration skills, and strategic thinking. Below is a detailed breakdown of each stage:

1. Recruiter Screening Call

The first stage usually involves a phone call with a recruiter. This call lasts about 30-45 minutes and serves as an initial screening to evaluate your background, motivations, and how well you fit the role. The recruiter will likely ask questions about your experience in instructional design, your understanding of learning methodologies, and how you approach designing learning experiences.

Typical Questions:

• “Can you tell me about your experience designing educational programs or courses?”
• “Why are you interested in the Learning & Development Designer (Contractor) role at MasterClass?”
• “How do you approach creating engaging and effective learning experiences?”
• “Have you worked with tools like Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, or Learning Management Systems (LMS)?”

During this call, the recruiter will also explain the contracting nature of the position, the specific responsibilities, and what you can expect in terms of collaboration with the design, content, and development teams.

2. Portfolio Review

The next step is usually a portfolio review. For the Learning & Development Designer role, your portfolio is crucial, as it provides tangible examples of your experience in designing and developing learning content. MasterClass will want to see how you’ve created learning experiences, whether for corporate training, educational courses, or e-learning programs.

Portfolio Tips:

• Showcase learning modules or courses you’ve designed, particularly if you’ve worked on online learning platforms.
• Highlight any interactive content or multimedia elements you’ve used, such as video tutorials, assessments, or gamified learning experiences.
• Provide examples of how you’ve applied different learning frameworks, like ADDIE or SAM, to design and develop content.
• If possible, include examples of how you tailored the learning experience for different audiences and used user feedback to improve the content.

This review is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your design thinking, your approach to creating impactful learning, and your experience working on similar projects.

3. Design Exercise or Case Study

MasterClass typically asks candidates to complete a design exercise or case study. This test assesses your ability to create a structured and effective learning experience based on a brief or a business need. The exercise can either be a take-home task or a live presentation depending on the interview format.

Sample Design Exercise:

• “Design a module for a MasterClass course that helps users understand complex concepts (e.g., leadership or creativity) through interactive activities and assessments. Include your approach to structure, content flow, and engagement strategies.”
• “Create a learning path for an employee onboarding program. How would you design an experience that is both informative and engaging?”

In this exercise, focus on your ability to:

• Create clear learning objectives.
• Build engaging content that caters to a wide range of learners.
• Develop evaluation mechanisms (e.g., quizzes, assessments) that align with the learning outcomes.
• Consider user engagement and interactivity—MasterClass values compelling, immersive experiences.

This stage assesses your creative problem-solving, your knowledge of instructional design methodologies, and your attention to detail when designing learning experiences.

4. Behavioral and Collaborative Interview

The behavioral interview assesses your collaboration skills, your ability to handle feedback, and how you work in a fast-paced, cross-functional team environment. MasterClass places a strong emphasis on team collaboration, so expect to discuss how you work with various stakeholders to develop learning content.

Sample Behavioral Questions:

• “Can you describe a time when you had to work with subject matter experts (SMEs) to create content? How did you ensure the content was both accurate and engaging?”
• “Tell me about a time when you received feedback on a project. How did you incorporate it and revise your work?”
• “How do you handle working with tight deadlines while maintaining quality? Can you give an example?”
• “Have you ever worked with a team of designers, developers, and content creators? How did you manage communication and project timelines?”

This stage evaluates how well you work in teams, handle pressure, and communicate effectively with both creative and technical teams.

5. Final Interview with Leadership

The final round may involve meeting with senior leadership or members of the learning and development team. This stage focuses on your long-term vision, your strategic thinking, and your ability to manage projects at scale. You may also discuss how you see the future of learning design evolving at MasterClass.

Sample Leadership Questions:

• “How do you see MasterClass’s approach to learning evolving over the next few years? What trends do you think will shape the future of e-learning?”
• “How do you ensure your learning designs are accessible to diverse learners, including those with different learning styles or needs?”
• “Can you describe a time when you had to innovate or think outside the box to solve a design challenge?”

In this stage, leadership is evaluating how you can contribute to the vision and strategy of learning at MasterClass, and whether you can scale your work to meet the company’s growing needs.

Key Skills and Tools for Success

To succeed in the Learning & Development Designer (Contractor) interview at MasterClass, you should have the following skills and experience:

• Instructional Design: Familiarity with ADDIE, SAM, or other instructional design frameworks to structure and create learning content.
• E-Learning Tools: Proficiency in tools like Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, or Lectora to design and develop interactive learning content.
• Learning Management Systems (LMS): Experience with LMS platforms like Moodle, Canvas, or Docebo.
• Multimedia Content: Experience designing for different media types, including video, text, audio, and interactive elements.
• User-Centered Design: Ability to create learning experiences that are tailored to user needs and engage diverse audiences.
• Collaboration: Ability to work closely with subject matter experts (SMEs), product teams, and engineers to ensure your designs meet the company’s learning goals.

Final Tips for Preparation

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates your expertise in learning design and includes a variety of projects—particularly e-learning modules and training programs that demonstrate your ability to create impactful content.
• Think About Engagement: MasterClass values engagement. Be ready to talk about how you create content that keeps learners engaged, especially in an online learning environment.
• Showcase Your Process: During the design exercise and portfolio review, focus on explaining your process—how you approach each project from gathering requirements to creating and iterating on the final content.
• Stay User-Focused: Ensure your designs reflect the needs of learners, with an emphasis on accessibility and ease of use. Be prepared to discuss how you test and iterate based on feedback.
• Brush Up on Current Trends: Familiarize yourself with the latest trends in e-learning, gamification, and interactive content, as these are likely to be part of the discussions during the interview.