A Pentair recruiter reached out to me with a phone Interview request and questionnaire. Two days later we spoke on the phone for over an hour about my qualifications and background, as well as an in depth discussion into the role that was posted. I spoke again with the recruiter the following day and set up a phone interview with the hiring manger. The phone interview with the hiring manager lasted well over an hour. The conversation was very detailed and in-depth to the positions requirements, My background and skill set. We ended the conversation with the intent to schedule a plant visit. I was asked to complete a skill test for Microsoft Excel by the Recruiter and was then set up with the onsite HR personnel. I was brought in for an onsite meeting the following week and up until this point, the communication was open and I had a good feel for the company and the candidate that they were looking for.
The Onsite interview was scheduled for 3.5 hours one afternoon, which required me to take off a half day from my current employer.
When I arrived I was taken to a conference room by the receptionist, where I sat for 5 very long hours. I was grilled by 8 different individuals, one after the other, individually and in a round table discussion. I was even interviewed over the phone for 30 minutes by an offsite potential colleague. At no point was I ever given an opportunity to get up from my chair, take a break or even collect my thoughts in the entire 5 hours I was at the location. I felt this was all a part of their “behavioral” testing.
After the final interview was running an hour and a half over the time scheduled, I finally asked to part ways. I had been interrogated enough for one day. It was after 5pm, the plant was closing for the day and lights outside the conference room were turned off. At this point I felt that I had been pushed to the limit, I had passed all their intellectual, technical, social behavior and skill tests, it was now time to head home. I left feeling that I had laid everything I had on the table and completed their tests. I was more exhausted from this interview than any late night study session in college or certification exam. They had me fill out the documentation needed for drug testing, references and all standard new applicant documents prior to my departure.
I wrote emails the following day asking for any feedback that the interviewers or recruiters could provide.
- Crickets-
I did not receive a single response or phone call returned. I did not even receive a rejection letter. Maybe I am still a candidate, maybe I'm not. At this point, I feel ghosted, which is expected by most companies that are hiring. However, when a candidate is this far into the process and has dedicated 8hrs of interview time via phone and in person, tests and so forth, I feel it is a bit unprofessional not to communicate with the candidate.
If I am still a candidate, I’ve learned all I need to know to determine that this is not a company I want to work for, and would turn down any offer that was presented.
