I applied end of October, first answer I received few days later, invitation to the first ‘on-site’ interview. We agreed upon time beginning of November.
First interview was on site with 4 persons: HR, Head of Product from department, I applied, Head of Engineering, Team Lead. Actually, in overall interview went quite well: I’ve been asked valid questions, conversation was nice and friendly.
After some time I got invitation to the second ‘on-site’ interview with the Team, that took place middle of Nov, and where I talked to 3-5 persons (some people were coming after some time), that I also really like and I must say I felt quite comfortable there. This interview session ended up with team lunch, that went so well that all of us at the end were saying that we hope to see each other soon again.
Just because I also was not really aware about the hiring process - same day I wrote HR, asking to provide feedback as soon as they can, coz I need to know what’s next (if any) and since I had planned trip soon in December - would be nice to get some feedback earlier.
Next day I got answer from Head of Product that they were all impressed with my mindset and there’s no next steps, but rather they want to have me in the company and it’s just a matter of looking for appropriate department.
Beginning of December, I got email from HR asking for a bit of patience.
Middle of December, start of my holidays, I got a call from HR, saying that they’re making me an offer and want to have me in the team. I said I’m ofc still interested and team is really great, but I can’t tell my current employer about termination (due to holidays). I asked to send me email with offer (so we can continue in email thread), that was done. In contract there was one thing, that raised my concern, so I asked to check and tell me, if it is possible to change. The answer was quite positive about that and I was promised to be updated asap, during next business days.
Nobody got back to me for 3 weeks. Early in January I finally received an answer that, unfortunately, it’s not possible to do the change, I asked for, and it’s sad to loose such candidate as me and I was wished all the best.
I asked to not consider my answer as negative and I’m actually ready to accept contract as is. No response for few days, call afterward saying that while I was on vacation, someone communicated to someone that I decline and they made offer to another person, who accepted. What I was suggested - come and talk to another 2 department managers and ‘choose’.
I’m not going to tell about these talks (though I went and tried, but it was not a fit and it was not a ‘choice’ for me, but rather interviews again), it didn’t end up well and at the end I actually felt out of energy completely.
If you ask me if I’ll ever apply again? For now, I’d say no, but I want to emphasise that it’s not about the team (I still have a warm memory about them and interview with them in total). I just don’t want to pass though incompetent, frustrating hiring process again….