PLEASE LEARN FROM MY EXPERIENCE - 73 days, 40+ hours of interviews, tests and requests for/delivery of comprehensive, free consultant work while being misdirected/misled/disrespected. Contacted by external recruiter for Sr Mktg/Mktg Director role at Nice Pak. One hour interview before she said she had to pass me to another recruiter. Two calls with second recruiter. Told two jobs avail. Agreed to focus on job #1 given my background. Was told huge job with significant compensation and growth opportunity. Had hour phone interview with company HR. When I asked about turnover/multiple Directors seen on LinkedIn they acknowledged, but said at manufacturing level, not marketing. Invited for in-person interview. Asked by external recruiter to take a Caliper test before interviews - told would take 30 minutes, took 1 1/2 hours. If you ever have to take, Google beforehand. Prepared for in-person interviews by researching company, store visits, product use and idea development for job #1. Six hours of interviews with leadership. Employees appear intimidated by owner and provide impression he is hard to work with. Most time spent on whether I can handle the owner and my level of comfort/experience with assessing/working less skilled people out of the organization. When I ask who hiring manager is, I’m told they’re working on it and have someone in the process in mind... I shouldn’t be concerned, owner makes decisions. Meet with owner. Shares he’s been trying to penetrate CPG for years but hasn’t been able to do so due to not having right people, ideas. I share my learnings about job #1. He shot down multiple ideas without consideration or support. He wrapped with conversation around integrity bring at the heart of the company, which I respected. Told me I did well on caliper test then asked me to do a brand audit for job #2. Told by recruiter did well and there will be one more full day in person with different leadership then maybe Skype with consultant. Said he and HR tried to get owner forgo the second strategic assessment request without luck. Again, store visits, product use, speak with retailers, develop slide presentation. Meet for day with additional leadership then present my ideas on job #2 to owner. Similar experience as first round, but told doing nicely in the process. Told by recruiter did not get job via email with feedback of “After long conversations and discovery talks on who is going to truly succeed in this search along with the appropriate level setting needed, the Team has decided to elevate this role.” Next day recruiter calls to tell me owner must to talk to me that night. I express concern with process. Ask for clear next steps and told by recruiter that owner wants to make me an offer. Owner calls me around 9pm next night and asks me to do a strategic deep dive on other side of business, back to job #1. Recruiter asks for references. I decline on basis of not yet having an offer and not wanting to notify my network of my job search unnecessarily. I’m also concerned by process and don’t want to waste others time. I get product samples, connect with their research people for data and perform an agency quality brand assessment and marketing plan. I send to owner, discuss with him by phone and told excellent work. Essentially, uncovered similar approach they had just identified, had success with. Then owner says there’s new hire that would now be the hiring manager - asked me to meet with them. I ask recruiter for clarification who tells me yes he placed this person. I ask if that’s the case why didn’t you tell me? Are we starting over? Said he shared all he was allowed to, not starting over. Was told a more of a formality as owner really likes me and owner makes decisions. Told I was final candidate. Called by owner that Saturday night and asked to do additional work on a third business; develop ideas for print ad. I call recruiter who’s unaware and asks me for guidance on what to do. Ultimately tells me not to do it until I talk to new hiring manager. Also says he’s informed the new hiring manager on all the “hoops jumped through.” Phone call scheduled with new hiring manager. Calls 30 minutes late. We reschedule and have another call where he acknowledges my efforts, jokes “why would I still want the job?” Wants to meet in person. Met new hiring manager for breakfast. 1 1/2 hours. Similar discussion as with others but also about “big ideas.” Referred to my marketing plan submission that owner had already complimented and reference some past examples. Next day, recruiter says did not get the job because I‘m “too methodical.” This for a strategic effort they hadn’t progressed for years despite multiple attempts at “big ideas.”