It was very easy and efficient at the beginning while working with the recruiter. She was very kind, professional and encouraging during the phone interview and also gave me great insight into the company and the culture. Following the phone screening, I was immediately sent a personality assessment as well as a few questionnaires/tasks to complete which a next step would be contingent on the results/completion of these forms. I turned them in the following morning, and that afternoon was asked to schedule an in-person interview with the VP and another individual in marketing. The offices were absolutely beautiful, clean and modern. The recruiter met me in the front office and we had a brief conversation; she was very polite and extremely encouraging, saying that I would do great etc., The two interviewers came in and could immediately tell that they were rude. Extremely cold, impersonal demeanors – not hint of kindness or sincerity in their body language or line of questioning. They regarded me like I was not welcome [leaning back to look at me, with a hand under the chin, no expression, saying very little…etc.,] and they clearly did not know anything about me or my resume. The female interview kept looking over my resume and then back at me, and did not seem to have too much to ask me. I could tell the interview was not going anywhere within the first few minutes. They never smiled, laughed, or engaged me in conversation in a professional and curious way- it was a removed and cold exchange from start to finish. Every answer I provided, they either did not say anything, said “ok…” or tried to spin my skills into a negative. [A fictional example…if I said that I can only write with a pen, they would say they are looking for someone who can only write with a pencil]. It was clear that they weren’t trying to give me a fair chance and had already decided that I was not to proceed in the hiring process. Since I EASILY passed the initial screenings and the recruiter verbally noted that my skill set was in line with company needs – it leaves me to believe the reason for the unimpressed, detached treatment was due to cultural/personal biases of the interviewers. This statement cannot be proven, but that is what I gleaned, especially knowing that I was qualified for the position and had the appropriate experience, education and ROBUST portfolio or I would have not have applied, or advanced so rapidly in the interview process. Securing the job is never a guarantee, I understand that, but they should have kept their demeanors neutral as opposed to obviously disinterested. The conversation lasted less than 10 minutes and then I was led upstairs to complete a writing assessment which took one hour. They were just humoring me and going forward with procedure, but I knew that I wasn’t being considered as a candidate. Overall, the upstairs office environment made me very uneasy. It was extremely quiet, no one looked at each other. Following the writing assessment, the interviewer walked me out, very stiff and awkward conversation – she did not mention next steps or anything related to the interview process. I left, feeling certain that if the interview had have gone better and I was extended an offer, I would not have accepted it. I am very skilled at reading a scene/people and Big Yam is just another toxic, “North Scottsdale” – vibe, cliquish company where the people are way too comfortable with their positions/seniority and therefore feel entitled to be hyper-critical and unwelcoming towards others. I could imagine that I would always be under scrutiny, monitored, and critiqued and management would always be creating a case against me to justify letting me go – I would not have lasted 6 months there. I am so fed up with the agencies like this, that offer amazing opportunity…for a few select individuals and everyone else does not stand a chance. This is the type of place that holds on to a group of people for a decade(+), and allows said individuals to create a toxic, elitist culture and their behavior never results in any consequences; their attitudes and personalities are not only ignored but secretly encouraged – and that’s how environments like this come to be. I feel fortunate to have observed this, and to not have to find out the hard way!