The interview process was long and moving towards exhausting. When I did the initial screen with the recruiter it was scheduled via Google Meet without any context or information about what to expect as far as to camera on/camera off. This was mid-2020 for context. So I came to the interview prepared to be on camera, only to discover the recruiter never turned their camera on or acknowledged that mine was on (so I turned it off). The recruiter indicated that the interview process would be 30 minute call with the hiring manager, group interview panel, and CEO call. The end.
The second interview was again via Google Meet with the hiring manager so I was wondering camera on/off but prepared for the camera to be on. The Hiring Manager's camera was on. The call went great, he was very approachable and likable and we definitely clicked.
Then I received a request to submit a project detailing what my vision was for the community at Indiegogo so I put together an extensive slide show deck and submitted it. Two weeks passed and I received a request to participate in a panel interview that was scheduled to last 3 hours and have 6-8 panel members. As soon as I joined the call the hiring manager indicated I should take everyone on the call through the project I submitted...that I had not looked at in the 2 weeks in between and had never been told that I would be asked to review it with the panel. After reviewing the deck panel members dropped off the call and then rejoined in scheduled 30-minute intervals resulting in six 1:1 interviews back to back. The call went very well, but was absolutely mentally exhausting.
Next, I received a request to submit a writing sample, which I did. Another week went by and I received an email requesting to do a phone call with the recruiter which I expected to be a verbal offer but instead it was him asking me what I thought of how things had gone so far and if I was interested in moving forward.
At this point I had multiple hours invested both in submitting projects and in doing video call interviews so I said yes. He asked me to do another project which was answering prompts for very specific situations, basically responding to community members who had violated policies which is very easy for someone with community experience so again I submitted the requested samples of work.
Another week passed without contact, then I got an email request to do a video call with the CEO for 30 minutes. This call also went great and I really liked the CEO so it felt like things were progressing just slowly and with additional unexpected steps added to the process which was frustrating but not enough to make me withdraw from the application. Finally 2 months after my initial phone screen with the recruiter he called and made a verbal offer for the position. He was very upbeat and excited to tell me he had gotten me $10K more than I asked for in salary...except he didn't. He got me exactly what I asked for in salary so my only guess is that he confused me and another candidate.
