All interactions with recruiters were bizarre. Email exchanges were laden with typos, phone conversations were cold, handoffs between recruiters were unclear, process for scheduling / confirming interviews was inconsistent, & time between communications was highly variable. After working with 3 recruiters over the course of 5 weeks, I received a terse rejection from a "noreply" email address at 11pm.
Hopefully someone from recruiting sees this & does a major process overhaul.
WEEK 1:
* Applied online & was contacted by Recruiter #1 the next day requesting 30min phone screening. Email had a couple typos in the subject line / body. Provided my availability using a Calendly link in email.
* Received auto-generated email confirming phone screening. Sent Recruiter #1 quick note to confirm topics for discussion. Never got a response.
* Completed phone screening. Conversation was straightforward, however the whole time I felt Recruiter #1 was very sleepy / extremely distracted. I couldn't tell how my responses were being received, but at the end of the conversation Recruiter #1 said I would move to the next stage (60min 1:1 with hiring manager). I was also told to follow up with any questions regarding the company / role.
* Reached out to Recruiter #1 that weekend with a few questions. Again, I never got a response.
WEEK 2:
* Received an email from Recruiter #1 confirming I'd move to next phase. Provided my availability using a Calendly link in email.
* Received an email from Recruiter #2 (cc'ing Recruiter #1) requesting that I meet with the hiring manager at a time different than all slots I had provided. After accepting new time, Recruiter #1 chimed in, thanking everyone for support / flexibility. All of this happened in the same day within a few hours.
* Received Zoom details for 1:1 the following day.
* Resent my original questions to Recruiter #1 & #2 to ensure I was prepped for the 1:1. Got an immediate response from Recruiter #1 suggesting we set up time to discuss over the phone. Connected the following day.
WEEK 3:
* Had my 1:1 with the hiring manager, which went great. They seemed like a great leader / employee / businessperson, & our personalities seemed to mesh.
* Heard back from Recruiter #3 (cc'ing Recruiter #1) that same day, stating I'd move to next round (30min mock QBR with hiring manager & another manager). This email, which included all QBR interview details, was clearly forwarded / used for a previous candidate. This email did not have a Calendly link / details on how to communicate my availability. Responded to both Recruiter #3 & Recruiter #1 asking when this interview would take place or if I needed to provide availability.
* Three days later & still no response. Called Recruiter #1 who told me to follow up via email with Recruiters #1, #2, & #3. In email, again asked if interview was scheduled or if I needed to provide my availability. Recruiter #3 responded, stating they just sent a request to a coordinator to schedule times, they were holding off on scheduling until I provided my availability, & I’d receive a calendar invite as soon as a time is confirmed.
WEEK 4:
* Weekend comes & goes. It’s now 1 week after my 1:1 with hiring manager. Sent another note to Recruiters #1, #2, & #3 asking if they need my availability or if a meeting has been scheduled. Recruiter #2 responds immediately, saying my interview was the following day. I responded saying I couldn't make that time (I have a job & run / own client meetings) but provided all availability for Thursday & Friday. Recruiter #2 responds saying only availability is for date / time the following week. I confirm. Recruiter #2 responds saying availability is actually for date / time this week. I confirm. At this point, it’s clear my schedule is no longer a factor in this interview happening (if it does at all).
* Next day, reached out to Recruiters #1, #2, & #3 to see if the QBR call could be shifted (client meeting I run was rescheduled & we are working towards a Friday deadline). No email response. I get a voicemail from Recruiter #3 saying they've already rescheduled to accommodate me once & if I don’t keep this time I’ll be dropped from the process (in actuality, I was never once asked to provide availability, was not told about the “original” time until I reached out for a third time, never confirmed my availability for the "original" time or received a calendar invite for the “original” time, & was ignored for over a week).
* At the expense of my current client / employer, I made the time work. Completed the 30min mock QBR with hiring manager & second manager. Conversation was straightforward, quick, no curveballs.
WEEK 5:
* 5 days after mock QBR, followed up with Recruiter #3 asking when I’d hear about next steps. Recruiter #3 says they are following up with hiring manager next day.
* Two days later at 11pm, I get the a generic three sentence rejection email from a noreply mailer.