Sorry long post. Throwaway.
Went on couple of interviews and assessments for a small-sized company. Rejected couple weeks later for not having experience in the realm.
Details:
Assessments:
Spent some weekends doing the assessments, when I could have used to freelance and earn money.
The assessments really couldn't showcase much about the candidates' capabilities (I know, bc I have done other large companies' assessments after this, and passed).
Assessments were sprung onto me last minute–didn't seem like they had it planned before. More like an impromptu thing.
Last few rounds of interviews went really bad:
- Venue Change
Got asked to move interview venue less than a day before the interview. Which meant that I had to travel further away, which was impossible at that time. Said no. Got a reply less than 12 hours before saying to stick to ori plan. This caused me serious anxiety.
- Got bashed
Got asked very very very specific questions (e.g. content of essay written back in those days, specific work done five years ago). Got told in implied terms that I have nothing to contribute to the company due to my lack of experience in the field.
Mind you, I was clear in telling them I was looking for a change in career path. I am good in what I do, and these skills are very transferable in my field. Also, many people in the field learn from the job. Job description didn't say need someone with experience specifically in that field. I do want to get into the field, that's my goal.
- Currency
Slipped up that they pay in certain currency, which I originally wanted, but was told before that they pay in another. I pressed on the issue. Got dodged, the question.
- Salary
They kept pressing for “how much is your current salary” and “what is your expected salary”? I asked “what's your budget for this role”? They replied “can't tell you, but what's your current salary”?
I gave an honest number of my current salary (stupid af) and gave a super high balled number for expected. Immediately, got asked if I could lower it down.
Gave another moderate number and got told “oh, our budget for this role is xx to yy”. I said, “fine, give me yy to zz, bc xx to yy is too damn low”.
They slipped up in another round, saying their budget is actually “yy to zzz”. At least a thousand more than what I was told initially.
Ffs. Left a bad taste.
- Final words
Got told that I got into final round. Thought, okay, might as well. Red flags aside, I really want a change from current job.
Didn't vibe much. Could tell they had another candidate at hand, but they kept me just in case. They also arrived late and left right on time.
- Fina
Gave them some of my really really personal data without thinking (yes, I know. I'm stupid in that). Several weeks later, after constant follow ups (I mean, a looot), got told they picked someone else–they were waiting for the someone else to agree to the offer before rejecting me in definite terms.
Still not happy with it until today, even though it happened a couple months back. Though, imma grateful that I dodged a bullet.
I should have left when I saw the red flags since they flung last-minute assessment on me.
I didn't as I was desperate to look for another opportunity. Jokes on me. I learnt a good lesson from this.