The job application process started on the first of September with completing an automatic assessment, which thankfully wasn't too difficult. Afterwards, I was scheduled for an interview only a couple of days later, and at the time, it had seemingly gone really well, and the HR representative I was speaking to was pretty friendly. However, during this initial interview, I was informed that the job opening was not at the company listed on the job application (Lead Media), but was instead being managed by the alleged parent company of both Lead Media and Rebel Media, "Uptime.com", and was for the same position at Rehab Media instead. First red flag.
At the end of the interview, the HR rep I spoke to asked what a good time to schedule for the next interview was. I was told during this meeting that there would be a total of three interviews, with the call I was on being the first. I told her that afternoons and evenings are typically best for me (I'm a night owl, so I'm well aware that my best work gets done from around 11 to 5 typically, rather than the first two hours of the day), and I was told by the HR representative I was speaking to that she would choose a time that isn't too early in the day. ...so anyways, less than half an hour later, I get a meeting invite to the second interview, which was scheduled for 9:30 AM on a Monday. Second red flag, but I overlooked it, since I was desperate for a job at the time and took it as a sign the company was excited about me as a candidate.
So after an exhausting Monday morning interview, the third meeting was scheduled, which I was informed would have the CEO present, and that I would be expected to have my camera on and dress nice. As someone who doesn't usually wear fancier clothing, I had to rush to get something nice that fit...well enough within just a few short days. Which...wasn't super easy, but I had managed. Aside from that, the third interview went well (and thankfully, was even in a much more manageable time slot this time). Not long after the interview, I was immediately asked for my personal email for direct contact, which I gave promptly.
...I was then left completely in the dark, without even a confirmation that they had received a message with my personal email address attached, for an entire week, during which I had initially assumed that I had been rejected from the process without being told. However, I was suddenly called on my phone mid day with no announcement or planning with confirmation that a job offer would be arriving (a bit annoying that I didn't even realize I was still in consideration for the position, but hey, I wasn't going to complain about that).
I was informed that a background check was necessary before my first day on the job, and was told more things about the position. Apparently, the team is very busy, and so they were in a rush to get the position filled up, so they had me scheduled for the first of October. ...despite this, it took until a day after I had gotten the call to receive the link to the background check. Another red flag...
So I filled it out as quickly as I possibly could, having to ask for a couple of references on short notice (which could have been avoided had I been told beforehand I'd need two professional references for a background check). Yet, even before the background check had an estimated completion date, they had sent over the offer letter that "needed" the check to be completed first. Another red flag. Regardless, I of course signed and waited for the background check to clear. There was just one small problem...the background check was scheduled to clear on the third to the eighth. I, of course, reached out to the HR rep that I was working with on this, and was assured that this wouldn't be an issue.
We talked further, and I asked when I would be sent work equipment, with the person I was talking to mentioning that I would need to supply my own, but would be given a $1,000 reimbursement. Not a red flag on its own, but definitely not the best look.
After this final conversation, however, the background check continued to hang in limbo, and when contacting the HR rep about this, I at best would get 2 responses a day while providing as much information as I could to get things cleared up. The eighth came along and I was informed that they would be moving on to other applications after they had wasted well over a week of my time. Less than an hour later, the background check cleared. I was never contacted back. Looking at the other interview experiences that people have had, this behavior seems standard here.
Stay far away.
