I was initially approached by a recruitment specialist regarding this position rather than applying for it myself. At the time, I was not actively considering a move into this type of role, as I was unsure how design-focused it would be. However, the recruiter was personable, thorough, and took the time to clearly explain both the role and the interview process, which included a panel interview followed by a more in-depth stage.
After a positive initial conversation, I was told I would be contacted within a few days (prior to the bank holiday weekend) to arrange next steps. I did not receive any follow-up communication and checked all folders, including spam, in case of an error.
When I followed up the following week, the recruiter stated that she had sent me an email before the bank holiday weekend. She then copied the content of that email into a LinkedIn message. The message explained that the role would no longer be progressing, as the financial director had decided not to move forward with the position in its current form and instead look for someone at a more junior level.
This was disappointing, particularly as I had spent time over the long weekend preparing for the next stage and had become genuinely interested in the opportunity.
Approximately two weeks later, I noticed the same role advertised again. After waiting a few days without being contacted, I reached out to the recruiter, who explained that the posting had been released in error and that it was not the correct role. While I accepted this explanation, I found it concerning.
About a month later, the exact same position was posted again, with no visible changes to the job description or indication that it had been re-scoped to a more junior level. I had retained the original job description and was able to compare it directly. I reached out once more for clarification but did not receive any response.
A year later, the role appeared again. This time, I applied directly via LinkedIn. The job description remained unchanged. I received an automated rejection within three days.
Throughout my interactions, the recruiter highlighted the company’s strong Glassdoor rating (4.7 at the time) and emphasised its positive reputation. However, my experience raises questions about the consistency and transparency of the hiring process, as well as the authenticity of such ratings.
Overall, I found the experience frustrating due to inconsistent communication, lack of follow-up, and repeated re-posting of the same role without clear explanation.
