Honestly, it was the best, and the worst interview process ever. The best interview process because it was more of a conversational format, than having to answer a bunch of typical interview questions, or those crazy out in left field questions. Everyone was very personable, which made the worst part even harder to fathom.
The worst interview ever in their gutless notification process, and heartlessness in knowing my interest, yet avoiding me for two weeks while they brought on the other candidate. What I know for sure, was their inability to acknowledge the unprofessional handling of it, validated they brought on the right candidate. I’m new to the interviewing process, so perhaps this is standard these days. I just think how rude.
8 week process, 4 interviews, one was telephone, three were in person. Thank You notes were dutiful sent after each round of interviews, so plenty of expressed interest and communication flowing. After the third interview, the Personalysis Test was requested. Each time it is the final process. Then one more call for yet another interview in which they go over the benefits and I signed papers for background & credit check. A final decision was to be made the next day. I appropriately follow-up over the next two weeks and no one had the courtesy to tell me they offered the position to the other candidate and they had accepted. What I was told was there was delays, presumably with the background check. After two weeks of follow-up, I receive this very cold and impersonal email.
“Thank you for expressing interest in the Senior Buyer position with Oregon Electric Group (OEG). This position has been offered to and accepted by another candidate. We wish you good luck in your employment search.”
Seriously? How lame is that? That is something you would send out to someone who submitted a resume. Someone who has just invested hours and hours into researching your business, interviewing numerous times, taking your tests, signing papers that you never use (they never ran my background or credit check) - that person deserves the courtesy of a phone call. I cannot believe how cold and unprofessional this response was, so contrary to what they strive to be. I would have much rather have known that they offered it to the other candidate and pending his background or credit check, I should consider the position filled. That way I would be more apt to accept the position should the candidate not work out. But finding they offered the position weeks ago, and kept me hanging - that's cruel. It turned a positive interview process into something that left a bad taste in my mouth.
So . . . . can someone tell me, is this normal? Am I being unreasonable to expect a courtesy phone?