1 HR interview
2 panel interviews
1 HR follow-up
Total of about 6 hrs.
Very thorough as this is small tight knit group of people and they are looking beyond skills and towards interpersonal/cultural fit. Unique approach to everything. Attractive to those who are looking for something different and perhaps, meaningful. I loved everything about this company.
All in all a great process with one aspect that fell short. And it was not just the fact that I did not get the job.
I made the shortlist along with 1 other candidate which I learned in my final face to face meeting with the head of HR. I was told I was leading at that time as the feedback from all of the folks I met was overwhelmingly positive. We talked in some detail about these solid impressions from the interviewers.
Elated, I asked if I should be buying some wine to celebrate the occasion, and the response was yes. Not maybe. Not perhaps you should hold off until things are finalized. Yes.
We reviewed health plans, talked start date, salary, equipment, onboarding process, and a lot of other topics that one would do before starting a new job, one that it seemed nearly certain that I had won.
We even discussed how difficult it would be for the HR to inform the other candidate, that's the free and open direction that discussion was flowing.
3 days later, I got a brief, cordial, gracious email telling me that I was not selected. No further explanation as to the above conversations. Personal was replaced with professional.
My take: I don't think this company or any other one was obligated to provide any more info in this situation, but Atomic goes out of its way to stand on its own. It is not just like every other company. That's its secret sauce. So because of that and because I felt that after about 6 hours of interviews, some that got fairly personal, that I deserved a bit more. Not a lot, just a bit.
As hard as those tough zoom calls are, you show something about the culture of the company by facing them and you also send a certain message when you do not.
Note--this is a good company. I am leaving this review because I know they can take it. Perhaps it will help the next candidate.
I also have to start over with my job search and unfortunately, I can't use this site without contributing content.