What a waste of time for me and Microsoft!
- Recruiter reached out to me about a role after finding me on LinkedIn and I confirmed interest. They looked for my resume and I sent on. Heard nothing for days and had to reach out, few days later got a response saying my CV was passed to hiring manager. Nothing for days then a mail confirming they'd like to start process. Throughout the whole process I never spoke directly with the recruiter.
I heard nothing for over a week then got a mail asking was I still interested and if I could confirm availability as they were waiting on my response to a mail I never received? That was first alarm bell.
Confirmed availability and recruiting co-ordinator was very helpful and responsive and I was set up with 4 interview on 2 separate days. Did not receive confirmation of interviews until day before. reached out to recruiter several times for additional info on what to prep for and basic guidance on Interviewers and potential questions, got no response until day after first interviews. Response was a copy paste from hiring manager and not helpful. Recruiter asked in mail had my interviews been scheduled...the day after I done 2 for them. Second alarm bell!
Interviews were tough and fair to a point. Hiring manger was extremely nice and really sold the role and team and got me really excited about joining a great team and company. General questions about background etc.. 2nd round was more role related but Interviewer seemed annoyed I had not done what the previous candidate he had interviewed had done to show I was interested in such a role ( Yep , compared my achievements to another candidate, It was really nice to be ran down like that! ) 3rd Alarm bell and for me a deal breaker, Id never intentionally make little of someone and never want to work with anyone who does. No feedback whatsoever between day 1 interviews and day 2 which were held a few days later. Had expected a mail to say I was not proceeding any further after my 2nd Interview, am still amazed I did not get that as was very clear to me after day 2 I was not what 2nd Interviewer was looking for and would not be a match for role.
Day 2 interviews proceeded anyway. So 3rd round was another PM Interviewer and asked basically same questions previous round had. Asked me exact same question in exact same way and my response was once again, You have read my resume I assume? Got a very blunt yeah! :-) Interview was ended very abruptly after about 20 mins which I did not mind as knew I was getting a no. Last round was pretty ok. I felt it went good, another PM interviewer who seemed genuinely interested in me and my responses and happy with replies I gave. was polite and professional but I did get feeling I was also not what this guy was looking for either. Had a very good conversation however and actually enjoyed it.
After Interview I reached out to recruiter for feedback which I assumed would be an immediate no and thanks for your tome. Got no reply whatsoever and had to chase and chase and eventually copy a colleague on a mail until i got a reply that no feedback received yet. followed up again and again and no response , eventually a shot mail, No feedback, will update when there is yada yada yada!
Status of application on careers site changed to "not selected" a few days later and still no communication from recruiter or any feedback despite following up. Oh well, least recruiter was maintaining form.
Throughout the whole process I was polite and professional. I wasn't treated the same way and Its left a bad taste with regard this company for me.
I get I wasn't a match, that's easy to take.
But the rest, the lack of professionalism, and plain courtesy coupled with the subtle dig about credentials and accomplishments left me a tad annoyed.
Probably could have avoided a lot of it if recruiter had a quick call with me prior to Interviews to assess role suitability and potential match.
If same recruiter ever contacted me again my response would be very unprofessional. It takes zero effort to be courteous and mannerly, it does take effort to be rude.
Lesson learned :-)