Proceed w/ Caution:
I was approached by a Merge recruiter via LinkedIn. I was told I could be a great fit for one of their remote Senior AE positions. After poking around Merge’s website, I decided to entertain a conversation w/ the recruiter. The recruiter was very friendly and communicative the entire interview process. He phone screened me within 24 hrs of connecting then later set up two interviews with the account team. I felt my conversations went really well with the account team and was told the position w/ Merge could be a great step for my career. After my interviews the recruiter would touch base with me daily to give me an update on the status of my candidacy. I was initially impressed by the frequent updates because I have never worked with a recruiter that provided daily text message updates. After about a week and half of going back and forth via text and being told I was the selected candidate (over text message), I was later called in the by the recruiter who was extremely apologetic and stated the position is no longer a fully remote position. The role now requires a Senior AE who can attend client meetings in person. I understand that some clients have constantly changing business needs. However, I thought it was extremely unprofessional of Merge to post a fully-remote position and later renege on the fully remote opportunity. In my 8+ years of advertising, I have never had an agency recruit me for a position that they later changed to the point that I would no longer be eligible for the opening. In my first conversation with Merge, I let the recruiter know that I’m located in MI and just bought a home with my fiancé therefore I would have no interest in a position that’s not fully remote.
I feel my time was wasted and the lack of clarity from the agency showcases their disorganization on the backend.