The interview process was very dragged out and rigid. While they geniunely try to get to know you and ensure that you fit their company culture, but their interview process does ask a lot of everyone involved. First, you obviously have your interview or 2 with HR to go over logistic and benefits questions. Then two 30 minute interviews with the hiring manager and one of his colleagues, after that they bring you into the office for an hour long presentation as well as back to back to back (3X) interviews with several team members. It really is a day long process. Assuming they want to move forward, then they usually do background and reference checks and they really check EVERY reference and would not move forward without checking at least 1 direct manager reference. While I had about 10 years of experience, 8 with Company A and 2 with Company B my current place of employment, I haven't had a lot of different direct managers. The manager I started with at both places was the only manager I had during my tenures at both of those companies previously.I didn't realize this but my manager at Company A went on maternity leave, I offered them references from my education and other references from former teammates and colleagues but they demanded a reference from a direct manager and my manager from Company B did not yet know I was looking for other employment and I was reluctant to ask him since I technically hadn't been offered the role yet. Other companies will give you up to 6 months post employment to give employment references and often don't even check them. MathWorks, on the other hand wouldn't let me move forward without them. The positive is that the team was nice and they really care, they're the only company that actually did research into me and my experience before I interviewed so I didn't have to waste time with the whole "let me tell you about myself......" aspect of the interview. It's also the only ever non-Director role for which I've interviewed that also asked for a presentation.

After a couple of phone rounds, I went in for live interview with three people. The first Manager I met with was fine, but she told me the hiring manager was leaving the company for good the very next day, which came as surprise to me. That manager met with me anyway and had some fairly condensing comments about how most marketers think they are this or that, but they’re really not. (I’m being intentionally vague and over generalizing here). Our talk was short since I’m sure she could have cared less since she was leaving the company in 24 short hours. The third interviewer is who really made a negative, lasting impression on me. She went on about how she had worked there for 18-20 years (and it showed in her superior attitude. I’m pretty sure she has only ever worked for this one company, so she’s in for a deservedly rude awakening when and if she ever leaves for another company). When I explained something my previous company was working on, she said, “Sounds like BS to me”. When I asked her about next steps in the process she said something like “This isn’t my job req (requisition), so don’t ask me”. She did tell me about how she met her husband at work and something about her taking off Jewish holidays, all of which is none of my business and didn’t do anything to make her even remotely likable. I knew when I walked out of there that it wasn’t a salvageable opportunity, and it’s no surprise they ghosted me. I did send all of them a thank you follow up. A simple “thanks but no thanks” email back to me would have been the professional way for them to go.