I recently applied for the Learning and Talent Acquisition Manager role at Nom Nom Now, and the experience was nothing short of frustrating and unprofessional.
I submitted my application online and received a call from the hiring manager a week later. She inquired about my willingness to relocate to Nashville, TN, and I confirmed that I was open to the move. Despite informing me that there was no relocation assistance, I assured her it wasn't an issue. The first interview was scheduled within the week.
During the interview, the hiring manager asked about my compensation expectations, yet she avoided answering my questions about the target range for the role. When I mentioned that I didn’t recall the amount I had put on my application, she ignored my comment. Post-interview, I tried to review my application responses but found I couldn't access them. On the morning of my last interview and tour, I reapplied for the role and reset my compensation expectations after learning about the additional work the role would demand based on my conversation with the hiring manager.
After hearing nothing for two weeks, I followed up with an email but received no response. A month later, I reached out again, suspecting the role had been filled. The hiring manager eventually responded, saying she owed me a conversation and set up a call. During this call, she expressed doubts about my fit for the role, citing the tactical nature of the work and the inexperience of the HR team. I countered with my relevant experience, and she agreed to set up an interview with her leader. I also requested the salary range again but was ignored.
The interview with her leader went well, and I progressed in the process, speaking with two other leaders. One interview was via video conference, and the final one was an onsite interview at the Nashville facility. Living two hours away, I inquired about a hotel reservation to facilitate my travel. The hiring manager responded defensively, reiterating the lack of relocation assistance. I had already made my own reservations but wanted to confirm.
Despite receiving positive feedback from the interviewers, the hiring manager ghosted me after my final follow-up email. My initial conversation with the hiring manager was on May 15, 2024, and my last email was on July 29, 2024. Being ghosted after 75 days in the hiring process is simply unprofessional.
Nom Nom Now needs to address the communication issues and professionalism of their hiring process. Candidates deserve transparency and respect, especially when they've invested significant time and effort into the application process.