The interview process was lengthy and took approximately 5 weeks, during which I wasn't brought on site until the final week and on-site interview which was about 2.5 hours to present a project.
I was SO inspired and excited about the team and the VP - I felt I had a lot to bring to the team from my past diverse experience and that I would learn a great deal. That said, I am a fast learner and knew I could learn quickly.
It was a bit frustrating that the interviews went from recruiter to VP, to Director, and then staff again and FINALLY to on-site because it kept seeming urgent and they kept saying they needed someone yesterday, but then they kept dragging the process out.
Finally I was told I needed to complete a project to present to the team before I could come on site. I spent a copious amount of time working on this, asking friends in the industry and world of this department for thoughts and feedback, and even asked a clarifying question with the recruiter, but the project subject was so broadly articulated and they'd spent so much time in their interviews telling me about one specific subject matter, that I ended up focusing a lot of my project on that. The lack of clarity ended up being bad because while they said I "gave the best presentation they'd ever seen" it was apparently not what they were looking for. I back pedaled and pivoted instantly to address the subject they were now telling me they wanted to focus on. Two days later they said they didn't want to offer me the job because (from my original presentation) they felt I was more passionate and focused on that area (argh!). I asked to speak with the VP and vouched for my experience in the subject they had barely touched on previous to the on-site and asked to be given the opportunity to have three high-ranking referrals send her personal referral notes and she said yes. She had them all within 12 hours.
The next day the recruiter asked me to interview with a C-level team member for one last interview; the interview went great and I focused entirely on what I now knew they wanted to hear and gave specific examples of my experience with that subject. Later that day I was ecstatic when the recruiter emailed me to let me know that I had changed their minds and they wanted to extend me an offer....but wait for it, they RESCINDED the offer the next day!
Overall, I really still want to love this company and I really enjoyed meeting the team and getting to know the company's issues etc. but this was hands down the worst candidate experience I or anyone I've talked to since, has ever had. I just hope they learn how to clearly outline expectations, not waste candidates' time, and not mess with peoples' lives. This was terrible and has given me and so many people I know an icky feeling about this company.