Initially contacted by recruiter via LinkedIn. Was given the hard sell from the word go, but at this point I was drinking the kool-aid and didn't realize it. Upon acing the phone screen (though I"m not sure who doesn't), I was scheduled for a 1:1 interview with the head of HR. This is where they decide you are drinking the kool-aid or not, a.k.a. a "good cultural fit." Here they also will tell you that 100% of their hires are strategic and they do not hire to fill job descriptions. While the baloney about mostly "passive candidates" sounds terrific, it is moreso them fighting their deserved reputation of being a staff aug shop. Upon passing this round, I was scheduled to meet with a practice lead. This is another opportunity for them to sell you on their brand, while also gauging whether you actually fit any of their current needs. Ultimately, this may sound like sour grapes as I did not fit any of their needs, but my beef is mainly with the misrepresentation of who they are and what they do. Even the follow-up email (not even a phone call) from HR left things open-ended, as they want to be able to plug you into a job as soon as they sell it (and probably attempt to avoid reviews like this as they climb the best places to work lists). Mixed feelings about the operation and process, but overall dissatisfied. Might be a great fit for well-established consultants looking to skip the road warrior racket, but could also be a dead-end for a well-meaning corporate ladder climber.

Recruiter screening focused on background and fit, followed by a hiring manager interview assessing technical and consulting skills, and a final director round evaluating strategic thinking, communication, and overall alignment.