J. Murphy & Associates interview questions

After applying online for an events project manager role, I was invited to an initial 15-minute video interview with the founder, Julie. Already working full time, but eager to explore my career next steps, I agreed to participate in this video interview. It was difficult for me to interview via video during the afternoon discreetly because I did not want to compromise my current employment. After the video interview with Julie, I heard nothing for two weeks. I assumed the position was filled when I received an email from Kelley stating that Julie would like me to continue in the next step of the interview process. I was then provided with a roughly five-page questionnaire containing several in-depth essay questions. Completing this application was time consuming. I returned my completed essay application to Kelley and heard nothing for roughly three weeks. I was quite shocked because there was not even an email stating "thank you for completing this application - we will get back to you at x time" to acknowledge the time cost of completing these materials and to set an expectation for when I would hear back. I again assumed the role was filled when I heard back from Kelley stating they would like me to come in for an in-person interview. Typically, once you have met with a founder, completed a comprehensive application and are asked to come in for an interview, this is the final stage of the interview cycle. I agreed to come in for the in-person interview. Again, I was already working full time and it was difficult for me to participate in an afternoon interview discreetly. I was told this would be with one or two people, but it ended up being a rotating panel interview with eight different people. It was the strangest, most unconventional interview I have ever experienced. I was told a deeply upsetting story by an employee during this time. At the end of the interview, I was told "we will follow up with next steps". Again, l heard nothing for three weeks. At that time, I sent an email to Kelley stating that I received an offer elsewhere and would be deciding soon. I heard nothing back. A week later, I emailed Kelly to confirm that I accepted a final offer elsewhere. At that point, I received a response from Kelley informing me that they decided they no longer needed the role that I interviewed for. I was told that they decided they were re-evaluating their staffing needs and that "perhaps our paths will cross again." I understand that employment is at will, things can change, and these are precarious times for many small businesses. At the same time, there was no apology for failing to be proactive in informing me that the position was eradicated or for dragging me through an entire (time-consuming) interview cycle only to later decide the role was no longer needed. To me, this was a deeply inconsiderate hiring process that did not respect the time of the applicant or validate that an applicant is a real person, often with others to support, that is applying for a role because they have both value to bring and personal responsibilities to meet. I am glad that I accepted an offer elsewhere and that I did not wait to hear from them because that could have put me in a really bad position in which I did not have any employment.