The role was really interesting and if I would have been selected, I would actually work with a purpose-driven company. That was always my intention.
They were trying to find someone with skills in Braze in Sydney. I was based in Melbourne. I applied and had multiple discussions with their head of digital who insisted they were still trying to find someone in Sydney. Yet, I was interviewed multiple times by different internal stakeholders (where a lot of fancy buzzwords were used as if they're going to change the world) and finally, I was presented with a tentative written offer by email. I shared my references and was waiting for the next steps. The references I shared were contacted by phone. That being said, I have a feeling they also contacted people from my previous companies whom I did not provide as a reference, which would have been unethical.
After a month of interviews, multiple discussions, reference checks .. they pulled the offer.
Outcome: I had another offer which was paying more, but I really wanted to work with a purpose driven organisation. When they pulled the offer, and I missed out on my other offer too. The hiring manager did not reply to my email asking what happened when everything was aligned.
The references I had provided were also angry as they spent their previous time vouching for me and shared details of the projects I had worked on. As a result, they also asked me not to contact them and waste their if the company I interview with is not serious.
The experience overall was absolutely devastating. My references wasted their time, and I lost on my backup job offer. Furthermore, I lost interest in working with a purpose-driven organisation which was something I was striving for.
It was an absolute waste of my time, my references time, and pulling the offer after making it, is absolutely horrible. It shows how unprofessional the whole company is.