Dont share ideas during interview phase for any company. Share snippets maybe?
Here is to the big commerce giant. You posted a job posting online looking for someone to fill in. I applied and went for 4 interviews in a span of 1 month ( 1 each week).
1st (HR), 2nd with team lead and team lead’s boss, 3rd with another HR but higher up the ladder again. Finally, 4th with team lead f2f. The rest was online.
2nd interview : I’m told my resume fits their JD and it is want they are looking for (exact words). IMO,not the smoothest interview but decent enough. Really good vibes from both of them.
3rd interview : I’m told that they would schedule the next interview asap because they wouldn’t want to lose a good lead ( exact words from them btw). Again, really good vibes from the interview.
Wah, really make me waku waku.
4th interview : face to face. Went down to their HQ. Met up with the team lead for like a short interview / short intro to the current team. She asked what would be something that i would change that help improve the department. I gave my honest feedback to her. Interview ended shortly after. Good vibes once more, she showed great enthusiasm after the exchange of ideas.
Coming back to this week, the ‘ you have been rejected’ email came in.
Reason from them? Many strong candidates for my position.( very fair)
Then when i went to their app, they literally implemented my suggestions to their design this week. MINDBLOWN. What happened to your strong candidates? Where are their ideas? I’m totally prepared to sell my soul for the company but i got played dirty. ( my tombstone already engraved with my location of death at your HQ)
Overall, they gave me the impression that we would be able to work together and can’t wait to get me into their team. I really believed it. But at this point, it just feels like you had no idea what you are looking for. You set out to find ideas / suggestions without intention to hire. I would think it’s a pretty dirty thing to do especially for a big company.
Apart from work life balance issues in the company, seems like you can add this in i suppose.
On a positive note, i am truly happy that you implemented my suggestions( though no thanks or credits received). The customer service side of me is happy to help people around.
However, don’t give hope to candidates by saying things like ( We don’t want to lose a good lead)
I’m currently working for a smaller company now and sometimes i get tasked to be HR. I have never nor will i ever mislead people like that. Or worse, take their ideas for your own.
But then again, they rescinded job offers this week. So maybe that is the reason?
Anyway, just a rant. Thanks for listening / reading
Just be careful for any job seekers out there.