One of the strangest and most unprofessional interview processes I’ve encountered
I was contacted via LinkedIn for an Analytics Manager role with Google, which initially seemed like an exciting opportunity. The process began with a 15 minute screening call, followed by a 30 minute video interview with the same recruiter that felt largely redundant. The video call was recorded, and the recruiter mentioned they would be sharing notes with the hiring manager for review.
If the manager approved, the next step would be a final interview. That’s where things took a turn. While waiting to schedule that interview after a few reschedules, I was unexpectedly asked to provide references and confirm if I would accept a specific salary before even speaking with the hiring manager. This felt like a red flag, as I have only been asked for references after final interviews or once an offer is imminent.
To make matters worse, I later noticed the salary range listed on LinkedIn was significantly higher than what the recruiter proposed. I reached out to ask if there were regional salary caps since I am based in New York City and the role was remote. I never received a response to that email, and after following up again, still heard nothing. Instead, I was contacted to reschedule the interview with a vague excuse that the team was very busy.
By that point, I had already started mentally removing myself from the process to focus on other roles. Before I ever interviewed with the hiring manager, I was informed that the team had decided to move forward with another candidate. That decision felt premature and inauthentic. Why would Google not interview all approved candidates before making a final choice?
In the end, my experience with MTP was disappointing. It felt like the same old staffing agency runaround with poor communication, questionable transparency, and little regard for the candidate’s time. I would not recommend engaging with them.