It was an odd process. HR was not involved until the very end/presentation of salary and benefits after verbally being offered the job.
First step is an online, video recorded interview where you answer 2 questions in a timed format. Fairly standard and straightforward, general questions (i.e. why do I want to work for Anthem?).
Next step was a one-hour long phone interview with the hiring manager. General interview questions, very laid back and jovial. The hiring manager was fantastic and we hit it off really well.
Next step was a skills assessment. Given 2 days to provide a market overview of an assigned topic. Fairly straight forward, but vague in instruction.
Next step was an in-person interview with the hiring manager (Anthem is largely virtual, she was based in Virginia and I am in Atlanta). Again, much like the phone interview, very laid back and conversational. Went very well and I was offered the job at the end and was told I would then be contacted by HR. Up to this point no salary or benefits were discussed at any point and I have had no contact with HR other than the initial email to set up my video interview.
HR contacted me 3 days later to set up a time to speak. I ended up speaking with her immediately, but only spent no more than 5 minutes on the phone where I was presented a base salary (far below market average) and yearly incentive bonus. She then said she would send me an email with additional information regarding benefits. I did receive the email within about 10 minutes of getting off the phone with her, but it provided very little detailed information and a link to a general employee handbook. The instructions were to read over everything and get back to her with any questions. I did have several questions, many of which dealt with the base pay compensation and bonus structure which I emailed that evening. I received an email reply the next morning with an amended offer (basically a signing bonus) and literally cut and paste replies to my questions directly from the handbook I had been sent.
At that point I emailed back and said I couldn’t accept the offer as is because there were too many unknowns and unanswered questions to which she basically replied “ok, good luck, let me know if you change your mind”.
I emailed the hiring manager and told her I was very sorry for the outcome, but I couldn’t accept a position without having some basic questions answered (PTO, hours, bonus eligibility, etc.). The job and process seemed promising and exciting, until we got HR involved. It just seemed very rushed and impersonal. Disappointing to say the least, but Anthem is no longer on my list of prospective employers.
