Initially I had a great interview with the recruiter, who was personable and asked thoughtful questions. This got me excited about the company, which purports to be people-first as a company. My perception began to change when I got an email late Friday asking to provide an assessment-based presentation within 72 hours. Regardless, I consumed much of my weekend thoughtfully addressing the required topics in a visually-polished format. The company followed up with an interview request with the hiring team, which involved me presenting my work to senior leadership. While I prepared with further company research and talking points, during the meeting the team seemed largely checked out and quiet, lacking engagement towards my efforts. It was uncomfortable. Finally I got an auto-filled form letter (my name was in all caps) thanking me for my time, and that they were moving forward with another candidate. The hiring process, from weekend turnaround to their apparent lack of engagement, was not people-first. Until Mari+Gold evolves their hiring process, candidates should be mindful of the time they invest in this company.