My interview experience went something like the below. Let it serve as a warning.
6.8.21 - The CRO reaches out to me via LinkedIn msg to inform me that my name had been floating around the company due to webinars I frequently attended, and he wondered if I would consider joining their team. I wasn’t interested until I heard the base was $85k plus comm. My kids come first, even though I love my current job, so I told him I’d do a first interview with their head of HR and see where it lead. I had not been impressed with the Virtuous folks (except the Responsive Weekly) I had interacted with thus far, so I was a tad skeptical going in.
6.11.21 - HR lady was three minutes late to our phone interview (she was to call me), but was very nice and informative. I then was late to my childhood pastor’s wife’s funeral because I didn’t want to reschedule on her. That was on me, I get it, but still. We had a good chat, and she told me she wanted to move me forward to the next phase which was a 2nd interview for 60 minutes via zoom with their Division manager, who started 7 months ago and who has less experience than me. She even joked that the process would be “a formality.”Sent her thank you email.
6.17.21 - Manager was 4 minutes late to our zoom and left his screen off. He also said it would only be 30 minutes of “getting to know each other” and then another hour long zoom interview if this went well. I thought we had a good talk after he asked a few questions as did I. He said he’d like to schedule the “next” hour call with him, where we would get into more tech stuff, sales, my background, etc… In an interesting note, he said that “no one stays anywhere forever, and most people like him would be there for only 3-5 years.” I’ll be the first to admit my employment history is a bit sketchy, but I thought that was a really odd thing to say, especially since I really do go into every job interview hoping it will be the last of my career. Sent him thank you text.
6.22.21 - Manager was late again (3 mins) to the call, and was driving on his way back from ATL to RDU. Since the connection was rough, he kept his video off, and we had the 60 minute interview mostly on zoom audio and then when reception finally went out, on our cells for the last bit. Extremely unprofessional on his part, but things happen. Still confused why we didn't reschedule, but we had a decent chat on sales, methods, my “why”, and he said there would be a final interview with the CRO who reached out to me originally. Sent him thank you email.
6.25.21 - The CRO was 1 minute early, and we had what was described as a “45 minute informal talk.” We engaged in polite banter, and I found him much more likable than the Manager. We talked about the job, his history, the company, my background, but nothing unpleasant. I asked him 2-3 questions, talked about my “why.” He did seem perplexed that I didn’t have more questions, but at this point, how many questions would I have after 4 interviews? He then said the next steps were that HR would reach out personally and let me know either way in “a week to two weeks, but sooner since the new hire class would start the 19th.” Told him I would love to be a part of the team and sent him thank you email after call.
6.29.21 - Automated reply email letting me know I wasn’t chosen. I messaged CRO on LinkedIn, left a VM with Manager, and emailed HR.
6.30.21 - 29 hours after automated email, HR emailed me back, apologetic and nice. She was surprised I had not heard from either CRO/Manager and said she would help. I returned her email nicely, truly perplexed at this. I admitted that I may to be a fit for the role I interviewed for, but why not be considered for others if I were a “cultural fit,” as she had stated? Never heard from anyone after that.
Now, I fully realize I could have totally sucked during any of those interviews, but they reached out to me, kept the process going, I risked a job I really liked, yet they couldn’t even drop me a personal note with feedback letting me know the tough news & why I wasn't chosen?
It appears that this company isn't so virtuous after all...
