The hiring process felt sloppy and unserious.
I was asked to send my portfolio and professional references as the next step, then received a generic rejection almost immediately after. That kind of sequence makes it hard to believe there was any real evaluation happening.
For context, I have 15+ years of experience across agency and in-house marketing, including major brands and niche industries. I’ve led work at a level far beyond the scope of many of the roles this company appears to be hiring for, which makes the process feel even more careless and unserious. So the issue here does not feel like candidate quality. It feels like a disorganized process that wastes applicants’ time and collects materials without clear intent.
If you are not seriously considering someone, do not ask for portfolios and references. It is unprofessional and disrespectful.