About one month ago I applied for two roles at two different consultancy companies. One well known in the industry (Company A) and the other a bit bespoke but hugely successful (Company B).
Company A got back to me first, discussed salary expectations and offered an interview. The minute I arrive things are weird. The woman who would be my direct manager arrives and instantly cannot make eye contact, small talk, and directs me to go to the kitchenette near the interview room by myself to make my own glass of water while she prepares the room. At this point I’m mingling with the other employees and have to find my own way back to the interview. Red flags everywhere but hey maybe she’s just odd.
The interview starts, the other interviewer is on video call and is super personable, frequently saying how impressive my resume is and the whole thing goes extremely well that by the point it finishes the odd direct manager is super comfortable and actively engaged in what I’m talking about.
Not two days later I receive a positive phone call and an offer. The offer is DRASTICALLY below what I currently am on and they have offered me a less senior role ‘based on my years of experience’. I’m shook. The audacity blows me out of the water. I ask why this wasn’t made clear prior to the interview when they had a copy of my resume and could clearly see that information. The HR rep is saltier than the Dead Sea and tells me he will see what he can do.
Rings back later, offers me a 1k annual increase in salary and no change to position. At this point I tell him that if I were to accept, I’m essentially paying them to work for them, and that the role is too junior based on my previous roles. At this point, I’ve already interviewed for Company B and received another offer. I tell him this and that the other offer is far higher on both salary and position.
He asks if he should still send the offer and I politely tell him under no circumstance would I accept.
What a waste of fkin time. Has anyone else has this experience? Who the hell brings someone in for one role, then lowballs them so much afterwards it’s insulting?