The interview was absolutely fine. The reason I've decided to leave a review is because the feedback I received for not getting the job made me realise this company is a walking Red Flag.
I say this as a Reward and Compensation specialist with many years experience. The feedback was nothing but complimentary about both myself and my experience/skillset, however the reason I was not successful was because I asked the interviewers when and why the last time a promotion had taken place. I ask this question, as it is extremely insightful to me not only from a company culture point of view, but more specifically to understand the processes and strategy around internal mobility, reward and gender pay gap, so the answers are indeed very revealling.
The interviewers said asking this question showed I was too interested in thinking about my next role and that it demonstrated a lack of wanting to stay in my current role, they also said it was indicative of me wanting a more strategic role. So, essentially, it showed a woman with ambition and a woman who knows what we wants and where she wants to go, how very dare she!
I am so relieved I never got the job as had I been successful, it would have never been known to me that promotions are rare and the culture is one where women are not encouraged to be ambitious or successful and it sounds as though conversations around pay/career progression would be very challenging. By sharp constrast, the company I did accept an offer for, an offer for way more money, a more senior role and a respect for the level of strategic thinking, experience and ambition I bring to the table and they sailed through the promotion question by being transparent and encouraging!
Be careful ladies, Haleon is a red flag and this is the exact reason it'll take us 270 years to close the gender pay gap. I fear this was made worse by my two interviewers being two women. Sad really.