I received a request to interview with a member of the recruiting team 2 days after submitting my application. The conversation was typical of an HR screening interview and the recruiter seemed enthusiastic about my background and scheduled the call with the hiring manager while on the call for the same week.
The interview questions with the hiring manager were straightforward, asking about my background and how I have handled particular scenarios. The conversation felt awkward as they tried to make it feel casual and had us trade off asking questions. The hiring manager also appeared to have a god complex. They provided stories and examples where they positioned themselves as they were the only ones with the right answers and everyone else was oblivious. They also offered examples of inappropriately using gender and how that could affect team dynamics and potential conflict within a team.
After the interview, I never heard anything from the company since. I followed up with the HR contact to check in on the process after a week and received no response. While I may have dodged a bullet reflecting on the interview with the hiring manager, the company should have at least sent an automated email saying you are moving forward with other candidates. People dedicate hours not just to interviewing, but also to prepping and have to rearrange schedules to accommodate interview times. Don’t ghost candidates if you want people to interview for your company.
