The most bizarre and unprofessional interview process I have ever experienced. Actually still getting ghosted by them (technically speaking). Process started in late November 2021
Went through 4 main rounds of interviews plus a bunch of phone calls post interview
1. Recruiter reached out to me. First interview was a phone screen with HR contact. Easy questions, standard experience stuff
2. Interview with team lead, went great, started to get really excited for role, seemed like an awesome guy to work with
3. Main presentation, prepped for quite some time. Also told this went great. Call was with team lead and team director, both super likable
4. Interview with Chief Insights Officer. She couldn't make it to the presentation as she was traveling back from Luxembourg HQ. Also seemed to go great, by this time very excited, seems like a great fit.
After this call, I'm contacted by the HR contact who said everyone on the team really liked me and they were all "super interested" and they "plan to extend an offer."
When asked why no offer right now, they said it was the holidays and couldn't make it happen. Not great, but understandable. They then asked if I could have a quick catch up with the team lead, just to get to know each other. No problem, seemed to go well like all the others.
New year's rolls around, and having regular phone/email conversations with the HR contact. She keeps telling me how excited the team is, but unfortunately the budgeting process is just taking a long time. Nothing to worry about though, once that goes through "we'll extend the offer." Ok, getting fishier, but I'm still excited at this point.
Several weeks go by with regular contact, saying yes they are "super excited" just "need to figure out budgeting." In this time I actually reached back out to the Chief Insights Officer and had yet another conversation with her saying that they are still "super excited" but they don't know when they can extend an offer.
Basically there was some back and forth, but eventually stopped getting in touch after a few months. Seven months later I still haven't gotten a firm "no." Really a bummer, because seemed like a great opportunity.
Words of advice to Talkwalker, just tell your candidates "no." Saves them a lot of wasted energy and stress. If I had just heard a "no," sure I would have been disappointed but at least I would have felt that it was done professionally and your team would have preserved their reputation.
Words of advice to those applying, if they say they're waiting on something before extending an offer, don't bank on it.