I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Alion (San Antonio, TX) in Oct 2019
Interview
Applied via a job board & was quickly contacted by the recruiter the next day. Was set up for a tele-interview about a week out.
As a recently retired military member, I found comfort communicating with the recruiter as he just retired from the same branch as well. Prior to the interview, we connected as veterans and he explained how he will be sure to keep me updated on the process as he fully understands what it feels like to be in my shoes as a job seeker. He explained the difficult stories he had with recruiters prior to accepting his current role (and his 1st role since military retirement). He told me he takes pride in notifying candidates of their status w/in a week of the interview, if not sooner.
I have the tele-interview and was again relieved when I learn the interviewer is also recently retired from the same military branch (relieved because we can speak the same lingo). The interviewer also tells me I will hear something w/in a week from the recruiter.
Prior to the 1-week post-interview, I received an offer from another company. I left v-mail & email to the recruiter to explain this & that I would like to know if I am still a candidate for Alion. I hear nothing but crickets.
I know this "ghosting' concept is very common in this process and I've read arguments from both sides for it existing. I've developed thicker skin through my job seeking experience so far & have learned to accept "ghosting" will more than likely happen, unfortunately. In this case w/Alion however, I feel let down by 2 fellow veterans (recruiter & interviewer) that seem to already forgotten where they came from. All I wanted was a simple "YES/NO" of whether or not I'm still a candidate after my interview since they both stated over and over that I would be updated w/in a week of the interview.
During one of the stories the recruiter explained to me of how he got burned as a job seeker, he mentioned, "it's just business". I keep hearing his voice say those 3 words now and realize I was just potential business for him, not a person or even a fellow vet.