Worst candidate experience in my professional life.
I interviewed three times for a senior-level role and had a fourth and final interview scheduled. I drove one hour and forty minutes to the final interview only to learn minutes after I arrived that it had been canceled. The recruiter assured me verbally and in writing the interview would be rescheduled, only to hear back from him two days later stating I was overqualified for the position, and they were seeking someone “more moldable”. As a proud veteran, and someone who has worked for global companies, even working overseas, flexibility and versatility are my strong suits, so I perceived that comment to be incredibly discriminatory in reference to my age. The recruiter then told me they wished to consider me for a director-level position, which seemed quite fantastical, as he couldn’t answer a single question about this mystery role.
I expressed my concerns about the recruiting process to the CEO, who forwarded that email to the CAO. The CAO sent me a nice message, stating that BFA “strives for professionalism” and they “may have missed the mark”. He told me he would investigate what happened, and even gave me a date when he would get back with me. Unfortunately, I never heard from him again.
BFA seems very proud of the values they promote, but I didn’t see those values upheld and exemplified during my candidacy. While I believe in BFA’s vision and overall mission, their recruiting process needs a reformation if they’re going to attract the types of diverse employees they need to support their mission long-term, and not just comfortably fill their ranks with nepotism and alumni hires.
I’m not upset I didn’t get the job, but I am disappointed in the unprofessional way in which I was treated as an experienced and highly qualified professional. Sadly, the entire BFA recruiting process is run by a junior recruiter, who is responsible for multiple requisitions – from admin assistants to executive-level employees – and has no corporate experience prior to his short stint at the company.
If candidates don’t see BFA’s company values demonstrated by employees who are instrumental to the recruiting process, they will perceive those values to be inconsequential. You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do. Hire an experienced senior level recruiter; someone who knows how to communicate with candidates and knows what not to say to mitigate risks. In addition, when a candidate is rejected for whatever reason, the recruiter should refrain from offering misleading or false statements. The end goal is for a rejected candidate to walk away with their dignity intact rather than a negative perception of the company. Professional candidates often have extensive networks, so you can’t afford to have a reputation of candidates feeling disparaged during their earliest introduction to BFA. Good news travels fast, bad news travels faster.
