I got a call from HR in New York, going through half an hour conversation and then an office interview in Toronto. The interview surrounds my past experience and my understanding about the domain I worked. The interviewer was trying to ensure that I own the domain I had experience with. Then he asked me for questions. Going through my resume in details and having my questions, which lasts for about 2 hours, does help the interviewer get a full picture about me as a candidate. He provides me feedback instantly, and indicate I might not fit for a position at the moment. Later, he recommended some other contacts in the industry that I could connect with, and I did. HR also informed me that I may be contact again in the future. Overall, I enjoyed the process and it is worth the time spent regardless of result.

The interview process was long and involved, requiring significant preparation for each stage. It culminated in an in-person final round. The people I met throughout the process, from the initial rounds to the leadership team were excellent. They are clearly smart, professional, and pleasant to engage with. Based on the quality of the team, I had a very high opinion of the firm’s culture. However, the final experience was discouraging. After a week of silence following the final in-person interview, I received a generic rejection email from the recruiter on a Sunday morning. In a tough job market, candidates invest a lot of emotional energy and time into these "finish line" interviews. To receive a boilerplate message on a weekend, after going into the office and meeting the team in person felt impersonal and was a disappointing way to conclude the experience. Advice to Management The leadership team members themselves are great ambassadors, but the final touchpoint needs work. For candidates who make it to the final in-person stage, please consider a more personalized follow-up or at least ensure rejection emails are sent during the work week. Receiving a generic "no" on a Sunday morning after a long process is a tough way to treat someone who has put in significant work in for this opportunity.