I was very put off by the whole process, especially how some of the people during the in-person interviews were rude and/or arrogant. The process took about 5 months from first applying to finally getting an automated email informing me that I had not been given the job more than a month after they flew me out for the in-person interviews.
The process was:
- HR called to tell me more about the job, benefits, ask some questions and verify that I was still interested in the position
- Telephone interview with PM, which went okay.
- Telephone interview with Division Director, which also went okay so he invited me out for the in-person interviews
- Flew me out for the in person interviews. Spoke with 7 people (mostly 1-on-1, but 2 pairs) over the course of a morning. Each of the 5 sessions was about 45 minutes long.
Besides not getting the job, other disappointments were:
1. demanded that I provide them with 3 - 5 references before I come out for the interview. Usually, this is the last thing, when they just want to check on character, verify job history, etc. before making an offer. It's not necessarily easy to expect people to repeatedly take time out from their own busy lives and do references. Also considering I have a TS level clearance, this was an unnecessary imposition.
2. Disregarded and even cast in a negative fashion the fact that I have worked overseas twice in Afghanistan. Too much concern about my job history, when I am just trying to find a good technically challenging, hands-on job. I wonder how they would treat a veteran.
Even if I had gotten the job I would have been less than happy with how they conducted their hiring process.