Very bad experience. I received a generic rejection email, and then an apology email for receiving a generic rejection suggesting that is not how they want people's experience to be, and want to provide a good candidate experience. Unfortunately, this bulk email was as much as they were willing to do to avoid causing a bad experience. The email said the one position was filled, but to please check the web site because they are hiring technical recruiters and would like to chat. Interview opportunities being scarce during Covid, and reviewing the positions and seeing I was more than qualified for several positions, I was excited. I replied that I was confident I fit all the listed roles and would love to interview for whichever role she thought was the best fit. I'm worried about being able to stay in the area with my family, and started studying and preparing for the interview to do well. However, the level of attention to detail and willingness to respond was absolutely horrible. For one, the email was a no-respond email, meaning I had to use LinkedIn Inmails to reply. These are scarce and I got no response to multiple messages. Then I had to call a friend to get the personal email, and replied. This took a lot of work and could have been avoided if they'd simply included the email and phone number in the email stating they'd "love to chat" and "were hiring for technical recruiters", job descriptions I have multiples of the experience for and have every qualification. I got a generic response that the resume was forwarded to the recruiters who would set up an interview with me if they felt it was a fit, as if I were a first time applicant and hadn't gone to all that trouble. Then, nothing. By the way, I was overqualified for each of the positions listed and have more experience than most of the recruiters there, but they apparently reviewed it, after an apology email, and never reached out. Even in the follow up, which it took great effort to receive, there was no email or phone number. They are very impersonal and I have no idea why they went out of their way to apologize if they have no intention to change the way they do things or spend any time on the phone. I would have just forgotten about it, and only spent so much time preparing because they sent an apology email offering to talk and encouraging me to apply because they were hiring for other roles, but in reviewing past interviews, many aren't satisfied with the candidate experience. This was a very bad and frustrating experience. I spent a lot of time preparing because the email was apologetic and implied clearly they wanted to talk to me if I fit one of the remaining positions, and I had more than double all the requirements, so they clearly don't back up what they promise. They didn't review my resume for qualifications, at least not honestly, after implying the interview was guaranteed, saying they'd love to chat after I reviewed that.

So, as mentioned to the recruiter during my interview, I was not looking to leave my current company, but there is a concise list of companies that I would interview with, no matter what - Square is one of them. I took the call, and the initial screen went really well, then I was moved forward to a screen with a Tech Recruiter on the team. Thinking back, I don't know if there was anything that I necessarily bombed on. Still, I specifically remember the recruiter asking me, "what kind of things do you do to ensure a good candidate experience?" Answering, I probably gave some super generic answer. I admit, my brain was not firing on all cylinders that morning, or I needed more coffee, whatever. But, again, it wasn't like I completely bombed the interview either. Later that week, I was rejected via email, which is fine since I decided I wanted to stay at my current company anyway. However, I asked the recruiter for feedback via email since I (undoubtedly) know my interview skills are not the best. Ironic since I am a recruiter, I know, but that's rather here nor there. I have received absolutely nothing in response, not even an "as a company, we do not divulge any specific interview feedback to candidates." I would understand that, and I would move on with my life as normal. Personally, I think that is a horrible candidate experience, and I will not interview with them again because of this. No response is not the right call when it comes to interview feedback or candidate experience. Like, did you see my email and trash it? I don't get why you wouldn't at least tell me to get a life or something. Listen. I get it. You're busy. We're all busy. But, I always make it a point to get back to my candidates with some response. So, I guess that's my answer to your question of "how do I ensure a good candidate experience?" I close the loop with everyone that I can, and I make sure they aren't left in the dark. Simply put. Conclusion: Their company vision on candidate experience does not align with mine, so there is no long-term fit there. Fine. If candidate experience is so important to you, I challenge your team to practice what you preach. I'll leave it at that and hope you take this feedback constructively.