I interviewed with [Self-Publishing Company] for the Creative Director role. The first interview was a phone call, followed by a Zoom interview with their VP of Marketing. After receiving positive feedback, I followed up with a thank-you email, expressing my interest in the next steps. No response.
A week later, I sent another follow-up email to their HR, reiterating my interest in the role. Still nothing. To rule out any email issues, I CC’d another contact from the company. After three emails and a month of waiting, they completely ghosted me—no rejection, no update, nothing.
They also asked me to complete a project to "see how I handle it," which is highly unprofessional for a senior role like Creative Director. With 20 years of experience, this kind of request is rare and unnecessary—I wouldn’t have done it.
This level of unprofessionalism is a red flag for anyone considering applying or working with them. A simple response would have sufficed, but their silence speaks volumes about their internal culture. If they treat potential hires this way, how do they treat their employees or customers?
A good company fosters mutual respect. Hiring is a two-way street—I bring skills and expertise, and in return, I get paid for my work. If a company can’t handle basic communication, it’s not a place worth considering. Based on my experience and their already low ratings, I strongly suggest staying away.