Murky. Confusing. Perplexing. Opaque. Drawn out. Sporadic communications. Indecisive. Unresponsive: 'Ghosting"
I can't make "heads or tails" of this place. I've never seen anything quite like this before in my entire career.
2 months ago. Applied online for a position they advertised as REMOTE on a site specifically for REMOTE jobs. It appears this position had been up on the job boards for about 9 months. Why? (That was the first red flag)
Heard back a week later requesting to chat.
2 1/2 weeks later, actual phone screen happened after several days waiting for email response. Great, fun conversation. However, I was told they recently decided they were adding 'remote' roles to increase their access to skill sets around the country and to expand their Geographic presence. Cool.
Unfortunately, it didn't seem like they had ironed out any of the details of having remote workers. I asked basic questions they couldn't answer: How much travel will be needed? To where? When? How often" (We don't know). What's the communication plan? What tools will be used? (We don't know) How will the in-person interview be done remotely? (We don't know) I decided to cut them some slack and chalk it off as "startup" blues. The call ended with me being told to wait for a "code challenge" to complete
(Red flag number 2) 2 weeks passed: The "code challenge" finally arrives (Not a timed test - You just complete it and send it back you're done.)
The code challenge was moderately complex, but nothing very difficult. After spending 3-4 hours of my personal time coding, I send my 'code challenge' back 2 days later.
(Red flag number 3) I hear nothing for about a week. Finally, I get an email saying the team is looking at it.
(Red flag number 4) Another week goes by with nobody saying anything, so I send an email asking if anybody has looked at the code sample.
Nothing. No response. Radio silence.
(Red flag number 5) The email is ignored with no response for an entire week.
After I sent the code challenge back, they simply GHOSTED, for over 2 weeks. I assumed they weren't interested, and just moved on.
Another week passes: Out of the blue, I get an email indicating that the review of my code sample was very favorable and they would have moved forward in the interview process BUT during the past couple of weeks the company decided, last minute, they no longer wanted the role to be 'remote' and instead wanted local candidates. Apparently, they had been reconsidering the 'remote' portion of the job for some time - during the interview process, but didn't bother to notify me. Really? Incredulous, is all I can say.
Considering that the role has been posted as 'remote' for 9 months or more, it definitely appears they moved into the 'execution' phase of hiring with planning and requirements gathering for the position coming after the fact.
A company should be 150% clear on what they want, need, and what will fit their company before they post a position or begin accepting applications, and definitely before they begin asking people to invest person time/hours writing code. A code challenge is basically asking a programmer to do "free work" - not something you should be doing if the existence of the position as-advertised is "up in the air".
Pros: The company's work culture seemed very cool and interesting and everyone I interacted with was polite and fun to talk to. The work looked interesting and the company definitely seemed like a fun, small, cozy 'boutique' style company that almost any techie would love.
Cons: As far as hiring goes, they appear to be going through very visible growing pains, overall confusion, and lack of consensus regarding near-term and long-term direction for the company and clarity as to what they want and need in terms of new staff. Like a beautiful cruise ship afloat at sea without navigation equipment. It really seems like they are positing positions without being 100% clear on what they want, what they need, and where they are going. It definitely appears they may have gotten out in front of their skis.
It's a shame because the company definitely looks interesting and promising, but I would definitely ask LOTS of questions and make sure they are 100% certain of what they need , want,and expect before investing any amount of time into the interview process. It looks like everything is "fluid", "in flux", and still being "formulated". That's not good.
I definitely wish them luck, but improving their communications, organizing their hiring procedures, being clear and certain regarding recruitment needs, and planning BEFORE recruiting will do a great deal to aid their future success if they are serious about longevity in the future. Reputation is everything.