The entire process took nearly five months, and in the end, I was informed that the position had been put on hold. This was a disappointing experience, especially after preparing for and successfully clearing four rounds of interviews. All interviews were completed within the first three months, after which the salary negotiation phase began.
I had already shared my compensation expectations at the beginning of the process, and they were initially agreed upon by the recruitment team. However, during the negotiation, I was unexpectedly told that the budget had been reduced, and the offer could only reflect an 8% increase. After several discussions, we finally aligned on a mutually acceptable number.
Despite that, I was told for two months that the team was waiting on leadership approval to release the offer letter. Eventually, I was informed that the position was on hold.
This experience highlights serious communication gaps within the department at Toyota Connected. If there is genuine demand for talent, such delays and inconsistencies should not occur. I sincerely urge the management to respect the time and effort invested by both candidates and recruitment teams throughout the hiring process.
