I was contacted by the recuiter for HCL Technologies herself. She very clearly and openly discussed my current salary vs what HCL could offer. She confirmed that with the specific pay rate and bonus discussed it would in fact beat my current salary, so due to that I agreed to commence in the interview process. I first had (2) technical interviews with another Manager over a roughly 1 month period. Following both of those being successful, I was then schedule for a 6am phone call that could accomade a (3rd) technical interview with an India based member of the team. Following that interview, I was then scheduled for a (4th) interview with a SVP in India.
Now being 2 months into the process, the SVP then schedules a 10pm Webex that I was required to attend. After being online 10 minutes early, and for the next 30 minutes, noone showed up. I was then scheduled a (5th) interview with the same SVP at 6am a week later. The SVP again, never appeared online after 30 minutes. At this rate the red flags began to show as I've never in my professional career had an SVP let alone any company not call and/or appear for an interview at the scheduled time. Finally, I was awoken at 6:20am by the recruiter on a Sunday morning asking if I was attending the 6:30am interview, and shockingly, I was unaware of this. I then checked my email to find they had emailed me 5 hours before, at 1:30am about this interview. At this point I now woke up and appeared in the Webex for the (6th) scheduled interview. 30 minutes following this interview, I received a call from the recruiter stating 'Congratulations you have the job.'
Now, already having been rudely scheduled for interviews that never occurred (And we all know how difficult scheduling these around work and daily life can be) I was in the end of the 2nd month of this process, however had verbal confirmation of the position being mine. Next, a few days later I received an email offer that was $15,000 AND 10% Lower in bonus structure than quoted in recruitment. I immediately declined and stated that isn't even close to my current position, nor is it what was agreed upon at the beginning of the process. Ultimately after 3 more email exchanges, I received confirmation the salary would in fact be as promised, however the bonus would still remain 10% lower. I agreed to meet in the middle and leave that offer as such.
Finally, every week I would check-in with the recruiter asking about vacation time, start date, and any information available so I could plan on relocating and establish the items needed to change jobs and living locations. Almost every week I received an email stating "Sorry just waiting on an SVP signature." Knowing this position was offered to me, I had already turned down another position immediately out of respect for that firms hiring process, as well as preparing for this position with HCL.
Fast forward 5 weeks later, end of 3 months since this process started, I received an email from the recruiter stating they were sorry, they decided not to continue this process. Please folks, let all of this soak in for a moment. People who are interviewed for and accepting a management position are not out for the first job on the market, this takes sincere committment, time sacrifice, and deciphering as to a positive future career step. Pay attention to your treatment during the interview process, try not to give a firm as much credit or forgiveness as I did believing they had good intentions, as apparently people here are expendable even after a 3 month long interview process and job offer. The lack of respect throughout the process says enough about what it must be like to work for this firm.