I recently completed a lengthy interview process for a senior role at HD. I was genuinely encouraged after the recruiter said in our first interview that they felt relieved to have finally met a candidate who seemed to tick the boxes. The process included a recruiter screen, two thorough interviews, a substantial assignment and a final interview with the CEO. The final interview with the CEO was rushed and, in my view, incredibly unprofessional. In hindsight, I should have withdrawn once I learnt of the CEO’s widely reported disputes and allegations of misconduct, which are easy to find online. Unfortunately, there also seems to be retaliation towards those who openly criticize this individual online. What happened: The CEO joined late, sounded audibly frustrated, asked a few unclear questions, then ended the call abruptly before I could close or say thank you. The call lasted about 10 to 12 minutes, but was scheduled for 30. It appears that the final decision is based on that brief exchange, which undermines the time and effort invested in the earlier stages and the assignment. When I politely asked for clarification on a question, the irritation seemed to increase rather than improve the conversation. I shared these outcomes with the recruiter, after they enquired. Communication: The recruiter was courteous, but responses often took around a week unless I followed up once or twice. Clear timelines and proactive updates were missing. What was good: Earlier interviewers were competent and kind. Those conversations were structured and allowed me to demonstrate capability. Why this matters: If leadership does not model basic respect during hiring, it raises concerns about day-to-day behaviour, psychological safety, and the quality of decision-making within the organisation. Requiring a large assignment without a clear commitment to engaged evaluation feels extractive. Advice to management: None. You do not need my confirmation about the company’s culture. Public reviews already raise concerns about the CEO’s leadership style, and quick searches surface questions about the company’s ethics and practices. Although the experience was disappointing, I consider it a bullet dodged. I.e - run for the hills.

The interview process felt intensive; involving a combination of interviews and challenging take home tests that probed my abilities across various dimensions. It is by far the most comprehensive interview process I've been through. Having said that, though, the hiring team were fantastic throughout the whole process, and showed an incredible amount of patience in fielding my questions and accommodating my schedule. Overall, it was a challenging yet positive experience.