So I need to vent about the most unprofessional interview process I just experienced.
I work at a large institution and a manager position just opened up in my department. I’ve been doing the interim manager duties for a while and I figured I would apply. I had my boss and team’s blessings. HR determines I am qualified to interview and sends me a virtual meeting link.
Cue a funny smell. On the day of the interview , I join the meeting but no one is there. Five minutes go by. I instant message one of the interviewers and it turns out HR sent me the wrong link. The HR lady admits to making a mistake and sends me the new correct link and I join at a 10 minute disadvantage. I smile through the anxiety and irritation and ace the 5 person panel interview in spite of this gaff.
I move on to the second round a week later and all goes well. I am the top candidate and it’s looking promising.
Cue that funny smell again. All of a sudden on a late Friday, the same HR lady contacts me with bad news….she tells me I’m in fact NOT qualified on a “semantic technicality” that she “failed to screen” and that “I shouldn’t have been interviewed” and therefore I don’t get the job. Even though I provided evidence of the trait in the application, resume, two panel interviews, and follow up memo at their request. Even though 8 independent interviewers found me qualified. Even though I am currently doing the actual job duties.
Something does not smell right about this at all. Egregious incompetence bordering on something more devious. I feel like I have been through an non winnable bad place game.