I applied and received an e-mail to share availability for an initial phone screen. The phone screen went well and I was promptly moved to a face to face with the Hiring Manager, which also went well. She told me she really liked me, had me meet with two other Senior leaders (which she said she wouldn't do if she didn't think I was a good fit and that they'd conducted many interviews already that day). I felt that the first of the two went fairly well, though I could tell the first interviewer was just perusing my resume at the time of the interview and wasn't all that prepared. I understand people get busy though, and it was a first round, so I wasn't overly offended until he asked me how many employees I currently support in my role. I gave him a range and he subsequently compared me to the person who was in the role saying she would've told him the exact number. That was certainly off-putting, but I felt the rest of the interview went well. I then interviewed with another leader and that was mostly conversational and went extremely well. It was very situational and behavioral based on challenges her area was facing. I got the sense she was looking for ways through the interview to resolve some of these challenges. She also seemed to have a bit of concern/tension with HR and saw them as a Corporate entity that wasn't really embedded into her department. I took that as an opportunity to showcase how we could partner and provide some suggestions, as I do often (and well) in my current role. After the initial round of interviews, I got an e-mail to share availability for a next step of a phone screen with the Hiring Manager's manager, which I felt also went well. It did, apparently, as I was invited to a final panel round with the two Senior leaders I'd previously met with, three other Senior leaders, and the CEO. Here's when it got weird. One of the leaders (who compared me to the current incumbent) was not going to interview me that day, even though he was still listed on the agenda (and no one knew/said why). That was somewhat offensive to me. I'd prepared for hours for this interview, and it was nothing short of a disappointment. All the interviewers asked me the same three questions, so I felt like a broken record for hours and was underwhelmed with what gave an impression of lack of coordination/preparedness on their part to the candidate. As an HR professional, I was disappointed that the process didn't include more behavioral questions- or more questions period. I was frankly embarrassed for them with these three lonely little questions. They each said, "HR is making me ask these questions," or some variation of that phrase. Again, a turn-off as an HR professional. The leader I'd previously met with (for an hour first rounds) asked me most of the same questions as the first round where she was trying to resolve her challenges and figure out how this "Corporate" HR person would partner with their group and how I'd go about ensuring alignment. I explained again that this is a challenge I often face in my current role with the perception of HR and sold my skills well in how I strategically manage this process (or so I thought, because I thought that after the first same conversation and it was like it never occurred). One leader/interviewer had bloodshot eyes, kept yawning, and disclosed that he was tired from the night before because his family had been in town. He clearly also wasn't prepared for the interview and he looked at the time at one point and said he'd better fill it or the CEO wouldn't be very happy with him. I laughed it off, but was again fairly off-put by the statement. Not a good first impression at all. He then proceeded to ask about where I lived and how I liked it, tell me he's looking at neighborhoods, talk about how high the taxes are here, (he was new to the area), and make general small talk, which was better to me than those same three questions again (though he did ask them. Remember: HR said they had to). I met with the CEO last and I was shocked to see that she was in jeans, but thought, "She seems pretty down to Earth." She, too, asked the three dreaded (yet super easy if you have any customer service skills or professionalism whatsoever) questions. She, too, put the "HR is making me" disclaimer on the questions prior to asking them. I asked her her vision for the company in the next 5-10 years. She laughed and candidly/nonchalantly told me she doesn't plan on being around in the next 10 years. Comforting. And they tell candidates what not to say....... After all that, I heard not a peep for a month, at which point I got the canned automated e-mail that they were pursuing other candidates at this time. Probably best that this opportunity didn't work out, because I have high expectations and so far have been nothing but disappointed with this organization and would never apply again.