As we know, interviewing can be a daunting, unnecessarily onerous experience. HR was transparent about the interview process, timely with no surprises, or ghosting. As I was out-of-state, they accommodated an online interview, and never did I perceive that my application would not move forward because I didn't have an in-person interview.
One of my pet peeves about online interviews is that any particular workplace permits interview committee members the latitude to check texts or otherwise look like they're disengaged during the interview. Not cool. I've served on plenty of online interview committees and even if I know five minutes into the interview that the candidate will not move forward, I actively still connect with the candidate: nodding, leaning in, smiling - all signs that I'm engaged.
Conversely, I've been the candidate in some really terrible interview committee dynamics. Stan State was not that case! This interview seemed more like a conversation between higher ed colleagues, the committee were all in the same room so I wasn't talking to individual squares, so I got to observe their dynamic. They seemed to genuinely like one another!
Most of all, they seemed engaged with me, my answers, and on a few occasions, they dovetailed questions from my response. I appreciated that -- which meant they continued to probe, asked for more, or perhaps prompted clarification.
All in all, as a candidate, this was relatively painless and I also didn't feel that the negotiation process was disrespectful: it was transparent, quick, and genuine. I was really disappointed in them not meeting my salary needs (internal equity) because I really saw myself working there.