Headhunter contacted me about a 6 month role for what I would describe as web orchestration role. This was a junior-ish role seeking specific vertical experience they lacked, but the pay was since it was contract. External recruiters submit their top candidates, hiring manager narrows it down to 4-5 for a 30 min interview, then a panel interview. The entire process was cold and transactional with minimal direction during the actual interviews with the interviewers / panelists, which was as awkward as it sounds. The “case study” was to present two web marketing experiences you have launched, spending 20 mins on each with 10 mins reserved for their questions at the end. This bunch seemed out of their depth and unable to comprehend much beyond how to change a font style without significant coordination and layers of approvals. The questions were obviously scripted, and asked sporadically, out of context, throughout my presentation. It finally occurred to them that I should also be given an opportunity to ask questions… the responses framed their roles as self-important cogs in a machine where cross-functional partners make all of the decisions. Overall, it was clear to me that this group with no direct reports should not have been placed in a position to make hiring decisions, particularly for a role seeking experience beyond their own.