Disorganised Recruitment: "Bait and Switch" Final Interview
Overall Experience: Negative
The Process:
I progressed through an initial HR screening and a 45-minute technical/competency video call. After a three-week silence, I was told I was shortlisted for a second technical interview (online), which went well. I was then invited to the office for what was explicitly described as a "Final Interview." HR informed me this would involve an office tour and a meeting with the Engineering Manager to discuss the role and next steps.
The Experience:
I drove two hours from Coventry for this meeting. Upon arrival, the Engineering Manager I was supposed to meet was not there. Instead, I was put in a room with two engineers who were completely unprepared; they had not even read my CV.
Rather than the "final stage" discussion promised, I was subjected to an unplanned, deep-dive technical whiteboard session. It was clear there was zero internal communication between HR and the engineering team regarding the stage of my application or the purpose of my visit.
The Aftermath:
I raised these concerns with HR immediately. While they apologised and verbally agreed to reimburse my travel expenses for the 4-hour round trip, it has now been over a month with no payment and no further communication.
Advice to Management:
Respect your candidates' time. If you invite someone for a "Final Interview/Meet the Manager" session, do not switch it to a blind technical screen upon arrival. Ensure your engineers have read the candidate's CV before they walk into the room. Most importantly, honour your written and verbal agreements regarding travel reimbursement.
