Initially I was very excited following a good phone screening with HR, when the company arranged to fly me in and put me up for the night preceding a round of 1-on-1 interviews with Planning and Merchandising team members. Travel and accommodations were well-planned and comfortable.
The interviews went well, standard questions about my background and qualifications, and I felt like I connected with several members of the team. The position for which I interviewed is a level below my current role, however I was interested in moving to the area and love the brand. The offices are beautiful, and they provided a voucher to get lunch at the on site café. As I left, the HR rep told me they would get back to me within the next week or so.
Then the experience started to unravel. After about a week I followed up with HR to provide some new information about my current position and check in on the team's progress toward a decision. I didn't get a reply to my email for a week, at which point I was told they were still interviewing and it would be another week or two. I have worked in Retail long enough to know that a lengthy hiring process is pretty normal, so I didn't think too much of it.
I waited. And waited. 6 weeks after the interview, I had written off the position, but out of the blue received an email from HR that she had met with the team, they had a couple more interviews but would be in touch within a couple more weeks. So I sent a follow up email two weeks later checking in. What I received in reply (2 months after the interview) was this: "It may be some time before we come to a decision. I am still recruiting to bring in a panel of candidates. If anything should change, I will be in touch."
So what you're saying is you're no longer considering me for the position, right? You need to continue looking because you haven't found the right fit?
The lack of communication and respect I received from HR throughout the process is very disappointing. If the company is looking for a different skillset/background/experience level, that feedback should be provided via clear communication rather than giving the run around. This may not be indicative of how employees are regularly treated, but it certainly does not leave a great impression for someone in the industry looking for a career move.
Poor form, Anthropologie, poor form. I cannot recommend that anyone apply here, and I suggest you get some training for your HR staff in interpersonal communications and feedback.