The interview process I had told me a lot about the culture and future of the company. The company hired a consultant to choose and filter candidates for the position. It was very odd, because it seemed like he already had in mind who he wanted to promote to hire, although he was a contractor.
I passed a phone interview and received an email to come in for an in-person interview with a VP and the guy asked for an open day. I wrote back the next day, and then didn't hear back. I emailed again after 7 days, then called on the 10th and when he answered, he sounded as if he didn't expect me to call and said they already had a candidate they liked. I was sort of confused, because they asked for an in person interview. I wrote the VP directly expressing my interest in the job and asking for an interview before they made up their minds. I thought if the VP was the decision maker, then she ought to hear my pitch, particularly if she was interested in getting the best talent.
The next day I got a response from the VP to set up an in person time. I received a meeting maker with the contractor and VP on it. When I arrived for my interview five minutes early, and asked for the VP, she came smiling up to the front, but when she heard my name her face looked like she was caught doing something. She said she had to leave for a meeting but I could meet with the contractor guy for an interview. I asked if she wanted to reschedule, and she said she didn't understand "all that technical stuff" and the contractor guy did. It didn't seem like she was committed to working herself to find the best person, as if she just threw it to the temporary contractor. It's an odd thing that a VP would not take much interest in filling a director position, especially when she responded to my request for the appointment. It's like possibly leaving money on the table.
I had already interviewed with the contractor on the phone, and dealt with him not calling me for 10 days after asking me for an appointment. We talked for an hour, and, although he hardly made eye contact with me for the first fifteen minutes. Maybe the Director position interviews were not the VP's responsibility.
To prepare for the interview, I visited a couple of their nail salons and talked to personnel there about technology, how they liked working there and what they would improve. It's funny that several people told me that the management was not much interested in the salons anymore and would not spend money to improve them. The culture of the place is one of breezy neglect, as if the mundane things of meeting day to day operations is not as desirable to be on point with as the pursuit of something with more glamor. Now having an experience with the VP on a very important decision, the hiring of a director, I can see why.