The interview itself was routine and handled professionally, but every other interaction was not. Next steps were given during the first interview and never followed up (they were also changed at the last minute). We had agreed I would come into the office for a second interview with one of the editorial directors. This was on a Wednesday, I would come in on either Thursday or Friday. I was told they needed to hire someone immediately the following week, the time-frame given was mid-week and I confirmed I would be available to begin at that time. At the end of business on Thursday, I was told to take a writing and editing test and have it back to them by 5 pm Friday. No ask, just an order. Since I had slotted time on both days for the second interview, I agreed and sent in a rather intensive and time-consuming test. Then, no thank you for your time or feedback. I followed up mid-week and was told I would hear back at the end of the week. When I did not, I continued to accept freelance assignments and interview with other companies. I received a call at the end of business the following Monday saying 'they would like to hire me' but everything was left open-ended and vague. Toward the end of that week, I got another call and I communicated when I would be available to speak, I was called not when we had agreed, but in the middle of an important meeting. When I called during the appointed time period, I was told I would get a call back in "two minutes" - or one hour and 40 minutes later when the call actually was made. During that phone call I was offered the job and when I asked for an offer letter (because we had not nailed down salary, benefits, and other particulars I would have expected to discuss at the second interview) the woman handling HR did not know what that was, but pressed me for a start date. I would not commit to a start date before knowing what was being offered and said I would send her a series of questions. This meant I had to shoulder the burden of finding out the general benefits and perks afforded in Turkey as this would be my first full-time job. I believe it is my responsibility to know my rights and advocate for them - but also, my expectation is that a professional organization should be able to easily supply an offer delineating their offer. Since this was the end of business on Friday, I would write the letter on Monday morning. Unfortunately, I became very sick with the flu on Sunday afternoon and could only communicate that I was sick on Monday to the woman in HR. A week passed and when I followed up the following Monday, I was told that their need was urgent, so they had hired someone else. I am writing this review because I found the entire "culture" of this company during the interview process to be unprofessional in the extreme. Next steps were given and either changed at the last minute or never followed up on. Communication was lax, self-serving and high handed. My professional expectations and requests were never taken into account. Their delay of three weeks was acceptable - even though they had communicated their urgent need the following week causing me to hold off on other freelance work. My one week delay due to illness was not. I needed to conform immediately to their requests - requests that again, constantly suited their needs and never once took mine into account. I found the woman I was dealing with in HR quite nice, but completely inexperienced and lacking basic HR etiquette and knowledge. The whole experience was perhaps the worst that I have ever experienced during an interview process when one hopes that the 'best foot is always put forward'. If this is what interviewing is like, I shudder to think what goes on in the office environment.

I met with the HR manager and the editor. They were very nice and asked some questions about myself. They told me about the position and the magazine. They were very nice and I felt the interview went well. They told me they'd be in contact in the next few days. I sent a thank you letter right after the interview. A week later, I saw the job advertised again. I never got an email or phone call to let me know they were going to go with someone else. I don't feel they were professional in the follow up.