The interview process was a negative and odd experience. All interviewers just went through the motions, as if they were interviewing so frequently that they just didn't care any more. I never felt so uninvited and unwelcome for an interview.
Recruiting had considerable basic issues just setting the start date and time for the onsite interview. Multiple emails with contradicting details. Not impressed with the recruiting staff at all.
The Interview:
1. The first interview was with executive management who was also the reporting management. The executive manager told me that she just fired 100% of her staff less than a year earlier, then replaced them all - which was a red flag. She then explained the product line, but failed to go into any sort of detail about my position, or the expectation of it. She further explained that although I would potentially be reporting to her, I would get technical direction from a lower level manager. This interview was not helpful in any way at all, except to inform me that if I were hired, I could get replaced. Zero confidence level in potential job security.
2. The 2nd interview was with the lower level manager that I would potentially be getting my technical direction from, if hired. Unfortunately, the English speaking skills of the manager were so poor that and I had considerable difficulty understanding anything that he said, but from I could tell, there were zero technical questions asked. This was another red flag, as its pretty important to be able to clearly understand someone that you are receiving technical direction from.
3. The 3rd interview was with someone from product management. This was apparently an attempt at a technical interview for Test Automation, from a staff member that didn't actually do this type of work. He mentioned that he did do Test Automation for a prior employer many year before, so he asked me junior level questions that were specific to Python. As a Java developer, I proposed how I would accomplish in Java what would otherwise be accomplished in Python, in a more efficient way. It was clear that he didn't understand my explanation, and didn't know Java. Since this was the only technical interview round, I wondered why this person with no current technical skills was chosen to interview me on my Test Automation skills.
4. The 4th interview was a "no show", and was supposed to be an employee from HR. I assumed that I would get a benefits overview from this interview which never happened. Why could no one from HR bother to attend my interview? This was another red flag. I sat in the interview room alone for several minutes waiting for anyone to enter the room, and get the interview ball rolling again.
5. The recruiting staff eventually popped in, and said that the interview was over, and that no one else would be coming. No explanation was given. I was then told that I would receive an email with the company benefit information.
6. I never got the email with benefits, but 3 days later I did receive a "canned response" template email stating: "Thank you for your time, but we have moved forward with a different candidate".
The absence of an offer was no disappointment. There were enough red flags here to decline any job offer.
