For one round of group panels, some were absent due to schedule conflicts . A few days later, I was followed up to be told the "next step" was the same interview round with the people that were missing. When I asked for clarification, because it was different from what was previously described as next step, I was told there were "last minute changes to the steps of the process." When I joined the new next interview round, I waited for over 10 minutes before one of the people joined. He apologized for being late, then added that the other person couldn't make it due to doctor's appointment. The interview itself was mediocre, I wasn't expecting moving forward. I also wasn't surprised but nonetheless very disappointed that there was no communication from anyone since.

This was probably the worst phone screening I’ve ever had. After the recruiter asked me the usual generic questions (like, why did you apply for this job), we moved on to reviewing my portfolio on my website, and this is where things deteriorated. My site requires a login/password, as I find it is critical to protect one’s online presence and identity in today’s world. Well, it took her some time to type in the simple username/password I provided, and she made it clear that she was annoyed at having to do this. After getting to my artwork page, she had nothing to say about what was on it (she had no comments on the files she requested I send her, either), so I thought I’d show her a video in an attempt to get some discussion around design going, which I quickly uploaded and I gave her the address which consisted of simply changing the html file name at the end of my URL (not difficult to do!). Well, she just couldn’t figure out how to do that, so I said, okay, I’ll email you the link, which I did, she got the email but still had trouble going to the URL. She said something silly about how their servers block links in emails (really?) and then angrily proclaimed, “Okay, that’s it, this isn’t working, we’re gonna have to move on here” and proceeded to lecture me that if we move forward I’m going to have to provide my portfolio in a simple PDF that can then be distributed to the creative team for review. I wondered how that would work with sharing video (particularly when this company blocks URLS in their emails), but thought it best not to bring it up as I could tell she was already irritated. It seems to me that this person should have reviewed the material on my website beforehand so that she could have been prepared with questions to ask me about what she saw, or at least have my website ready to review on her screen for our call. And, if she was in a situation where she could not view it properly (can’t enter a simple login, can’t view a link in an email), then she should not have been tasked with the job of screening designers like myself. I’d also like to point out the observation that in order to apply for this job, I had to go through a multi-step application process on their ATS. This included creating an account with a login username/password, uploading my resume and then re-entering most of my resume information, and checking off several pages of EEO questions. Never once did I throw up my arms and yell “this is not gonna work!” So, I don’t think it’s insane for me to expect a company representative to enter a simple username/password to view my website. Finally, she demanded my salary requirements. I said I have no salary requirements, as I’m currently in another state where salaries are quite different than Florida’s, so I’m open to hearing any offers or at least a range. She said that they don’t have a budget yet, and that this is how they create a salary range, by asking applicants what their salary requirements are. Are you kidding me?!?!?!? I’ve never heard of such nonsense! I don’t believe for one second that NBCUniversal had no budget for this job and that this recruiter had no idea what this job pays. Clearly, this was yet another blatant example of a company looking to get the cheapest worker they could find. So, I continued to hold firm to my refusal to provide a figure. This is when she got nasty with me. She sternly barked, “You mean to tell me that you’re applying for jobs in Florida and you haven’t researched the salaries?” I said, yes, I have seen the salaries, and they’re pretty much all over the place, I’ve seen some as high as in the 60Ks and as low as $10/hour, and of course I won’t accept $10/hour but I’m sure you’re not offering that. She again demanded a figure. I refused. She asked me if I want a few days to think about it and get back to her with a figure. I said, no, I’ll withdraw as an applicant for this job. She was pretty surprised by that response, and again sternly lectured me about how one should know what they’re looking for in a salary, to which I said that most companies have a predetermined salary range. In conclusion, a truly horrible experience. I'm guessing that as there was "no budget" then there probably was no job, either, and they were just looking into what it might cost them IF they decided to hire for this role.