Interview Review – Head of Consultancy, Barbour ABI
The interview process began with an initial video call with HR and the hiring manager. Both asked thoughtful, competency-based questions, and the conversation felt well-structured.
I was then invited to a second-stage interview in person, which involved preparing and delivering two presentations. I was given around 10 days’ notice, which was fair, but the interview was scheduled for 9 am at their head office in Ellesmere Port — more than 200 miles from where I live. This meant I had to travel the night before and arrange accommodation at my own expense. While I understand this was a senior role, it felt inconsiderate that the company made no acknowledgement of the distance or offered a remote option, especially given how straightforward the interview itself was.
On the day, I delivered the presentations, answered follow-up questions, and was given a brief tour of the office. I was told to expect feedback early the following week, but I didn’t hear anything until late on the Friday of the following week. That left the impression I was very much an afterthought.
Ultimately, I was not offered the role, with the company choosing someone with more sales experience — which was fair enough, though my CV was already clear about my background. The feedback I received (that I hadn’t used the STAR method) felt generic and not reflective of how I actually communicated my answers.
Overall, the process started promisingly but fell short in terms of consideration for candidates’ time and effort, timely communication, and quality of feedback. With some adjustments — such as remote second-stage interviews for long-distance candidates and more personalised feedback — the experience could be significantly improved.
