The interview process was extensive and included multiple stages, a presentation, and meetings with senior stakeholders, including external partners. I invested significant time and effort throughout the process and was ultimately offered the role.
Unfortunately, the experience deteriorated during the offer stage. The period between final stage, an informal final stage and then offer was slow. During the offer, discussions around flexibility and hybrid working arrangements appeared to have little room for negotiation despite being raised for consideration during the interview process. Following these conversations, communication ceased and I never received a formal conclusion regarding the offer, whether that was a withdrawal, closure of discussions, or confirmation that the process had ended, that was 3 weeks ago now.
While I appreciated the opportunity to meet members of the leadership team and learn about the business and felt I was absolutely the right candidate for what the business needed. I found the overall process slow, one-sided, and lacking in candidate communication at a critical stage. For a senior-level role, I would have expected clearer communication, greater transparency, and a more professional conclusion to the recruitment process.