I went through the full interview process 4 stages in total and was told that I was the front runner for two roles both the strategic enterprise and enterprise account exec positions. I was assured they could move quickly to accommodate me as I would be bringing a warm pipeline with me and I was coming in from the CX Industry already, having represented their main competitor for over 4 years.
I could also move quickly as I was not tied into a long notice period. The final stage was a panel interview in the Qualtrics London office which went so well that I was told I could have done no more to convince them of my suitability for the roles but the final decision lay with the leadership for the region.
I was actually due to meet for the first time the leader who bailed on my presentation at the last minute to extend his leave and I was then asked to have a fifth stage with him in person alone. It was clear just on looking at me that I was not taken seriously and was just asked about my family. I then was called in again in person for a sixth stage with a line manager who also had bailed on my presentation, I had already met him on one of the earlier online interview stages. I was then parked for a couple of weeks while they progressed other candidates through the process and they then offered one of the roles to one of them. I was then strung along for a few more days only to be now told I have been unsuccessful for the remaining role. The reasons were totally vague and frankly not applicable to me. How can you go from being a front runner to being unsuitable ? Not sure what more I could have done as I was told all the way through that the feedback was positive. The very leader who did NOT see me present my pitch made the final decision.
The box ticking chat was just about my family life which showed a predetermined mindset that he had no intention of hiring me. With leadership like this if you are senior black saleswoman with 30 years sales experience, all the right skills to actually do the job, a warm pipeline to offer and can start immediately don’t waste your time and money on Qualtrics.
To have a leader who cannot put Qualtrics’ business needs above his own personal bias is a real indictment and undermines the whole basis of the recruitment process.