The interview process was an initial telephone interview, then face to face with senior management and then lastly an interview at the head office in Swansea.
I must say I have never in my lifetime come away from an interview process in tears, but unfortunately this is how the process at Vizolution made me feel.
I had an initial telephone interview with the recruiter which is pretty straight-forward, asking what I know about the business and CV review. I was then forwarded to second stage interview with senior management (3 of them), for a CV review and competency based questions.
As customer success = proactivity, I took this opportunity to produce a CHI as well as a presentation for my interviewers. This second stage interview went well, I was given very positive feedback in the interview, and was told there and then that I would be going on to the last stage.
To my surprise I was then contacted to ask for more information as to why I'd moved in different positions on my CV. I found this extremely irregular as not only had we gone over this in the interview, but in addition, reasons are also written on my CV. Nevertheless, I wrote a thorough email explaining causes for the movement which were all completely legitimate.
I was then I told I wouldn't be moving forward for the last stage. After speaking to the recruiter, apparently, it was nothing to do with my CV movements, it was because I was labelled 'aggressive' by two of my interviewers. I was extremely shocked by this as the interviewers expressed that they were impressed previously by the presentation, documentation and questions answered as I asked for feedback within the interview.
As this was extremely irregular feedback, I've asked previous colleagues and managers whether they would percieve me as 'aggressive', and the answer was a resounded 'No'. They gave feedback such as 'you like to get the job done', 'you're proactive', the worst was 'pushy, but you get the results!' all of which I'm extremely proud of.
Unfortunately, I feel I was labelled immediately, and in my opinion I really didn't stand a chance the minute I got a face to face interview and walked through the door.
It's very easy to be intimidated by strength, competency and ability and I'm proud that I possess all of these qualities. It's unfortunate that I believe that Vizolution were too blinded by prejudgement that they were too afraid to recognise these assets in a person, regardless of gender or race, and use them to their advantage.
I believe diversity and integrity is important in business.
I feel that I've had a lucky escape not going forward with Vizolution, after my experience with this process. It seemed pointless to me, the minute I had a face to face interview.
