It started as a standard invitation to a virtual interview after I applied for one of their open positions. However, there was an interesting request included: they asked me to provide directions on how to make a sandwich for someone who had never been in my kitchen before. I followed their request and sent a detailed description to the hiring manager the day before the interview. I believed that this was a way for them to check if the invite was actually read, rather than just getting a blind acceptance. IT was not discussed or mentioned during the interview.
The interview began at the scheduled time. I introduced myself to the hiring manager and another person on the call, whom I initially presumed was an employee, as part of the interview. However, I quickly realized that this person was actually another candidate for the same position. This was unexpected and caught me off guard; it felt unorthodox.
Despite that, I navigated through the interview process with relative ease, as I felt I was a good fit for the role. However, I found the process to be flawed and unexpected, especially for a professional setting. While taking a written interview/questionnaire with a group can be one thing, having multiple candidates on the same call answering similar questions felt unusual to me. Additionally, the hiring manager was difficult to see, as most of the screen was filled with a blurred background, and their face appeared at the bottom of the screen.
At 8 a.m. the following morning, I received a rejection letter. Given the qualifications of the two candidates, I felt I was more suited for the position. I reached out to the hiring manager with whom I had interviewed to request feedback, but I did not receive a response. When I revisited the company’s LinkedIn profile, I noticed that the HR person was not listed as an employee. Upon reviewing that person's LinkedIn profile, I discovered that they had left the company three years ago, which seemed unusual.
Receiving rejection letters is a normal part of the job application process, whether they arrive a day or a week later. I was somewhat surprised by the quick response, but I don’t feel bitter about it. What was off-putting was the overall interview process and the employment status of the interviewer.
This is my first time providing feedback of this nature. The unusual situation prompted me to respond.