This was one of the most toxic interview processes I have ever had.
I had 7 rounds of interviews for an associate consulting job at Huron. While interviewing, if I ever had a question I would reach out to the recruiter and they’d always promptly respond to my emails or calls, usually within a few hours to 1 business day. Also, throughout the whole interview process all I received was positive feedback. Everyone I spoke to was so encouraging, and even the last hiring manager told me they wanted me to be on their team. Great, right?! I was so happy!
Well, about a week after all my interviews were done, the recruiter called me on a Thursday and left a voicemail. In the voicemail they told me that the hiring managers were super interested in having me on their team. The recruiter also told me that though it was taking a “little longer than usual”, they were working on getting me an offer, and that everything was looking good on their end. It was just that one of the people that needed to approve the offer was on PTO and wouldn't be back until the following Monday. So the recruiter told me that they would be in touch with me early next week. Well, the weekend went by and Monday rolls around, but I don’t hear anything. Tuesday comes, and I decide to send an email to the recruiter expressing my continued interest in the job and asking if there were any updates on the offer. I get no response. Wednesday passes, and still I don’t hear anything. Then Thursday comes around, and I decide to call the recruiter and leave them a voicemail politely asking for an update. Silence. No one answers me or even speaks to me that entire week. It was like all of a sudden I didn't exist, and I had no idea why.
After that entire week of being ghosted and waiting for an offer that never came, I got a call the following Monday from the recruiter. Like any good HR person, the recruiter gave me the standard spiel, telling me that though the team loved my personality and valued my experience, there were some "last-minute candidates" and that they decided to offer someone else the job. I was devastated to say the least. Until I stepped back and really thought about everything that had just happened........
They were never working on an offer for me. I wasn't their first pick. They just told me that because they were in the process of offering someone else the job and waiting for them to accept. In reality, I had been strung along and was a "back-up" in the event that the other candidate fell through. And I believe that's why I didn't hear anything from them that entire week. They just didn’t want to tell me, because…. why would they? It’s safer for them to lie and leave me in the dark, then it is to tell me the truth and risk me walking out the door.
So, I hope this review helps whoever is deciding to interview with Huron. After my experience, I pity the person who signed that offer letter and grateful that I did not. Because if Huron’s HR and hiring managers are able to get away with treating candidates like this, then I can only imagine how they treat their employees.
In the end, will I ever apply for a job at Huron again?...... Naw. I’m good.