•My first interview was a Microsoft Teams call with the Director of Talent Acquisition for an initial screening.
•The following week, I had a Teams interview with the Senior Corporate Director of HR. After that, I was moved forward to interview with the Senior VP in another round. We spoke for about 45 minutes—she wasn’t as warm as the others but was still nice overall.
•The next week, I was invited to visit the office in person. The campus is STUNNING. I also had the chance to meet with the person currently in the role I was interviewing for, who gave me a tour and answered my questions.
•After that, I was asked to return to the office for another interview (I was commuting about 70 miles from Macon). This time, I met with the Corporate Director of Total Rewards & Compensation and the Senior Corporate Director of HR again.
•At this point, I assumed it was the final round and that an offer might be coming. However, I left feeling unsure.
•The Director of Talent Acquisition followed up after each interview, including the last one. He let me know they hadn’t made a final decision yet but would update me soon.
•A few days later, I received an evening email stating that while I was a “strong contender,” they ultimately chose someone with more experience.
•While I understand that’s how the hiring process works, going through six or seven rounds of interviews for what was essentially an event planning role made me question if the company was the right fit for me.
•The team was genuinely kind and welcoming, and they had a strong, family-like dynamic, which I really appreciated.
•However, the interview process felt excessive and unnecessarily long for a role of this level. Going through six or seven rounds, including multiple in-person visits, seemed drawn out for what was essentially an event planning role.
•Although I didn’t get the job, I still had a positive impression of the people I met. That said, I think the company could benefit from streamlining its hiring process.
