I was contacted pretty quickly after applying, about two weeks, and asked if I could do an interview at their office in two days. I agreed and on the very next day they emailed me to tell me that the interview was cancelled, and that they already hired someone internally. Two days after that email they emailed me again to tell me that they changed their minds and they would be doing interviews, so we set up an interview for the following week.
At this point I was already a little wary of this company and I had a distinct feeling that they had already picked someone, or at least already had someone in mind, but I went anyways. I got to the interview, a 40 minute drive from where I lived, and everything there was good. It was quiet, their office was impressive and there was plenty to read if I had to wait long, but I didn't. My interviewer quickly came to get me and we went to his office around the corner from the lobby. The interview lasted maybe 5 minutes and it was a complete waste of my time.
All they asked me, was if I had more experience than my resume or cover letter suggested for other social media work. Basically, I said no but tried to explain that I have plenty of knowledge in the field and for the culture/community that they wanted me to represent, but I got shut down pretty quickly and flat out told that I didn't have enough experience. The interviewer's blunt style could be off putting to many people, but I liked it because it was honest and straight forward. However, why? Why cancel my interview, schedule another one and then ask me a fact based question that they easily could have asked over the phone or email, and then no other questions what so ever? I've never felt like my time was wasted more by a company, especially since they knew where I lived, how far the drive was, and all of my previous professional experiences.
Sure I've had companies not get back to me for months or string me along, which this completely avoided, but to drive 1 hour and a half in total just so they could ask me one question that completely shut me out of the process, disqualified me, and was fact based? The job description was also completely inappropriate for the job in terms of experience. It was described as a below entry level paid internship, yet I was specifically told at this interview that they wanted someone with experience in many different sides of social media, something that they completely did not mention in the job description. I was also very clear and honest in my cover letter about what experience I had in the industry. So, it made me feel like they didn't actually read my resume or cover letter, and then decided to waste my time in numerous ways. Truly terrible and I don't recommend the experience to anyone.
