This was by far the most unprofessional interview I have ever taken part in, and that's saying something, considering this is an executive recruiting firm.
First off, they CC'd me in all emails, including ones in which they shared what I assume was intended to be internal information about my candidacy, particularly what they saw as my strengths and weaknesses, for the position. I also got an intimate look at other people they were considering for the position, which I think might be violating privacy rules? (Don't reply-all.)
I interviewed over the phone for an hour. Twice. After a grueling two-hour in-person interview with two Vice Presidents, I came back a week later to meet with the owner. I sat in the waiting room and he came out, looked at me, scowling, and didn't even invite me back to his office or make me feel welcome. The receptionist told me to follow him back.
I entered his office, the owner immediately sat down across from me, pulled out a cell phone, and made a phone call to a bar he got drunk at the previous night and where he left his credit card. He put up his index finger, as to simultaneously say "Shh" was well as "Just wait a minute," while I sat there in awkward silence, listening to the one-way conversation as he chuckled with the pub owner for about 10 minutes.
He then pulled out a laptop and answered personal emails in front of me, asking me minor questions about my family while obviously not really listening to my responses. I made polite conversation with him, asking his experiences on starting a company, serving as a panelist on a popular TV show, running for political office in Ireland, etc., anything to prove I was not only interested in the company but interested in him as a potential manager and leader. He pulled out his cell phone and made another personal phone call, again leaving me in awkward silence while I politely tried not to listen in.
He got off the phone, looked at my resume, looked up at me, looked at my resume, and looked at me, a puzzled expression on his face. "Why are you applying for this position?" he asked. "You have no relevant experience." (This was an entry-level role.) It was obvious at this point that he never prepared for the interview nor had seen my resume prior to this meeting, which makes me wonder why they even called me in in the first place.
I started to explain, but he stood up and walked out of the room before I could finish my answers. I sat again in stunned silence, and another man walked in the room.
We spoke for a half-hour, this man obviously just as unprepared as the owner. It was a pleasant conversation, don't get me wrong; but it was pretty clear to me he was just as unserious about me as a candidate as the owner was.
The owner came back in, with one of the Vice Presidents, made a few what he must have thought were playful comments (but were rather inconsiderate and rude), and told me they would give me an answer soon. The receptionist was polite as I left.
I never heard back. I'm not sure why they wasted their time (and mine) if I was never going to be seriously considered for the position.
