A few weeks after applying online, I received a generic email—with a random dog GIF—asking me to record a video explaining why I wanted to join Innovamat. I did it. Nearly a month passed with no update, and then I received another automated message saying I’d been “shortlisted,” despite never having spoken to a human. This second request asked me to record another video with the exact same prompt plus an additional question.
I emailed the recruiter to clarify whether the link was correct, since the prompt was identical. Her response dismissed the question and simply said they “wanted to get to know me more,” with a bunch of exclamation points, emojis, and grammatical errors. I submitted the second video anyway.
Another month passed with zero acknowledgment that it was received. No update, no feedback, no human contact at any stage. For a Chief of Staff role—where communication and relationship-building are foundational—this process felt unprofessional, juvenile, and entirely misaligned with the expectations of a senior position.
I'm glad this didn't proceed because I probably dodged a bullet.