Having interviewed with a number of companies recently, my worst experience by far was with TVF. The process consisted of three stages and spanned around three months in total, with over a month's wait following the final interview alone.
The first two stages went smoothly: an initial screening call and a second round with the CEO, which felt conversational and positive. It is worth noting that the second stage was described to me as competency-based, though in practice it was not.
It was the third and final stage that left a lasting impression, and not a good one.
The interview was competency and scenario-based, which is completely reasonable in principle. However, the scenarios felt overly complex and highly specific for a role advertised as entry level, the standard of questioning seemed far more suited to a senior candidate. More concerning was the tone throughout. Every answer I gave was met with significant pushback, despite the pre-interview email explicitly stating that no prior experience was necessary and that I should draw on my own knowledge.
As the interview progressed, the CEO appeared increasingly frustrated, which only added to an already uncomfortable experience. It ended abruptly and without courtesy, and when I asked questions at the close, I was met with one word answers and a dismissive manner that left me feeling worthless and disheartened.
I want to be clear, it is entirely acceptable not to feel a candidate is the right fit. What is not acceptable is making someone feel the way I did. I would strongly recommend involving HR in the interview process to ensure candidate wellbeing is protected and that this does not happen to others.
Thankfully, I have since accepted a role with a company whose process was professional, efficient, and genuinely welcoming which only highlighted how unnecessary the TVF experience was.