The interview process was quite smooth and friendly, as one would expect from a company like IKEA. At the end of the process, I received an offer which was unfortunately revoked via email at midnight, well before the response deadline. The reason given was that I would not be satisfied with what the company could offer.
The sequence of events leading to this included my request for a potential increase in the offer, as their initial offer was below the minimum range I had originally requested and, as they knew, well below my market value based on my experience (which I would have accepted). During a phone conversation, I was informed that there was no room for a better offer. I mentioned that I needed some time to discuss the situation with my wife and to check if we could arrange daycare for our toddler, given the immediate start date requested. I promised to provide my decision earlier than their original deadline.
In the morning after the offer was revoked, my call was not returned, and in their response to my inquiry email, I was told that they perceived my negotiation as introducing a completely different and new number compared to my original request.
It was disappointing how the situation was handled, as I believe there may have been a misunderstanding that could have been resolved with further communication.
As a suggestion, hiring managers should be trained to communicate professionally to avoid any misunderstandings. Additionally, HR and hiring managers should have an aligned standpoint on the requirements and potential offers the company could give before the official offer goes out. In my case, this lack of alignment seemed to be the biggest issue. Any misunderstandings during the process could have been resolved with proper and professional communication, ideally through a phone or video conversation.