Extremely disorganized interview process and lack of professionalism
I’ve been working professionally for over 15 years, and this was by far one of the worst interview experiences I’ve had.
The process started off very positively. My initial interview went great — she was professional, clear, and communicative. Based on that experience, I was genuinely excited to move forward.
The issues began at the next stage with the CMO. The first interview scheduled with them resulted in a complete no-show. I waited over 25 minutes on the call and sent multiple messages to both the CMO and my contact person, with no response. I only heard back the following day, with an apology and an explanation that the meeting had been canceled last minute — despite the fact that I was already waiting on the call well past the scheduled time.
I was then rescheduled for another interview involving two hiring managers, one of whom was again the CMO. Unfortunately, the CMO did not show up for this second interview either. I still completed a 45-minute technical interview with the other interviewer, which went well and covered the role in detail.
A third “final” interview was scheduled — once again including the CMO — and once again, the CMO did not attend. I was told I’d receive feedback shortly.
A few hours later, I received a message congratulating me and telling me that I had gotten the job, that they were looking forward to working with me, and that someone would reach out to finalize contracts. Naturally, I assumed the process was complete.
Shortly after, I was contacted internally and told they needed to perform reference checks. While slightly unusual after an offer, I agreed. Then, just a few hours later, I was informed that the offer had been sent by someone who didn’t actually have the authority to hire me, and that there had been a “misunderstanding.” I was then asked to attend yet another interview — this time a fourth attempt — with the CMO.
At this point I was shocked. Being told you have the job and then having it taken back is not something I’ve ever experienced. Still, given the time already invested, I agreed to attend.
The CMO joined this interview 10 minutes late, offered no apology or explanation, and behaved as if nothing had happened. The conversation itself felt disconnected from the actual role, with questions that didn’t align with the position or with the previous three interview stages. After about 15 minutes, the call ended and I was told I’d hear back with a final decision.
A few days later, I was informed they had decided to move forward with another candidate. When I asked for feedback and clarification — especially given that I had already been told I got the job — the responses were extremely short, dismissive, and lacking empathy. I was essentially told that it wasn’t their fault and that the internal mistake was not their responsibility.
While I understand internal misalignment can happen, allowing someone to represent the company, miss multiple interviews, and mistakenly offer a role they’re not authorized to offer reflects a serious breakdown in process and accountability.
Overall, this was a highly disorganized, unprofessional, and frustrating experience. I strongly hope the company improves its internal communication and respects candidates’ time and expectations moving forward.
