I applied online. I interviewed at Center on Addiction
Interview
It moved very quickly in the beginning and then came to a halt. I had a phone interview, an in-person interview, another phone interview where they said they’d be lucky to have me, and then met in person with department members, the head of HR and the CEO. This all happened within 3 weeks. Then they asked for my references (including one from my direct supervisor) which they contacted immediately. Usually when a company asks for references , it’s because they are at the end of their search but it seems that was not the case here. I follow-up after a few weeks and was told I was still being considered. About a month later, HR emailed me to say I was still being considered and asked if I was still interested. Then COVID-19 hit and I understand that added additional time but was eventually informed that they were going in another direction 6 months after my initial interview.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Basic questions about experience, what I’m looking for, etc.
I applied to a part-time, impermanent role online and was called in for an interview. After the interview, I was given four days to complete an assignment and get three references to HR. HR contacted my three references immediately, asking for answers to ten open-ended questions. After this process, I emailed HR three times until I finally got a rejection letter about 1.5 months later. I was shocked by this process and asked for any and all feedback about my application/interview because I was very interested in the role and would like to improve on any potential weaknesses in regard to communications for healthcare non-profits. Not surprisingly, I never heard a response. I'm shocked that this organization would treat a part-time, impermanent role like this.
As a freelancer, my references are extremely valuable as I utilize them more than a full-time employee would. I'm very disappointed by the whole experience and would like an explanation.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
I was asked to provide three references within four days of my in-person interview. These references were contacted immediately with a request for answers to open-ended questions. This puts a burden on the references and to not hear anything back is quite disrespectful.
My understanding is that reaching out to all three references is more of a last step, background check. To ask so much information from them and then for me as the applicant to have to keep asking you about my application status was absurd. I've never experienced communication from a company like this before.
