I applied for a role online and was invited to an initial video interview with the recruiter at INX International Ink Co. During the interview, I was online and ready, with my camera on, but the recruiter did not turn hers on. Speaking to a blank screen was unnerving, yet as the candidate, I did not want to insist on her turning on the camera, to avoid any potential conflict.
A week later, I received a rejection letter that was a standard corporate response, beginning with 'Dear Mr./Ms. *Last Name*' despite having seen me on camera, where it was evident that I am a cisgender male with a traditionally masculine name. I found this impersonal approach particularly inattentive and off-putting. After the effort put into tailoring my resume, feeding information into the ATS, mentally preparing for the interview, and dressing appropriately to appear on camera, receiving such a generic rejection was, frankly, disrespectful.
Accustomed to rejections, it wasn't the rejection itself that was problematic, but rather the dismissive manner in which it was conveyed, coupled with the recruiter's choice not to engage visually during the interview. This approach felt lacking in consideration.
In response, I reached out to the recruiter to provide feedback. I expressed my views on the lack of mutual respect in the video interview process and the impersonal nature of the rejection email. I was intentionally pointed, but not rude, nor made any personal accusations beyond her choice of camera usage. The recruiter replied, stating that my candid feedback seemed driven by emotions stemming from the rejection. She mentioned that my salary expectations were the main reason for not proceeding. I received no feedback about this during the interview. (The number I quoted was in line with my research, however. *Looking at you and your wild swings in salary quotes, Glassdoor*) Her response included the remark, 'Talking about respect, I don’t think your email was respectful at all attacking me personally and our system. I’m glad we did not move you forward as you will not be a fit in our culture of respectful and kind people.'
While I understand the need for a fair interview process and respect the decision regarding salary expectations, the overall experience and the manner of communication left much to be desired. The lack of personalization in the rejection and the recruiter's defensive response to constructive feedback were areas that I felt could be improved for future candidates' experiences.
Perhaps the recruiter just wasn't aware how candidates might feel regarding camera usage, which is fair, but I hope this experience is something to learn from and the company's practices can improve.
