I recently interviewed for a role with L’Occitane and unfortunately, the experience fell well below expectations for a global brand of this stature.
The initial contact was disorganised — the Talent Representative (TR) missed the scheduled interview time and only responded after I followed up via email. She admitted to mixing up the timing, which did not instill confidence from the outset.
The interview itself felt transactional and rigid, following what seemed to be a scripted checklist rather than a genuine conversation aimed at understanding me as a potential team member. There was little room for connection or exploration beyond surface-level questions.
When the topic of salary arose, I asked about the salary band for the role. The TR claimed not to know it, which I found unlikely. I then shared my expectations transparently, including my desired package range. Her response was dismissive, stating bluntly that “even our regional managers aren’t paid that,” before pivoting to outline non-salary benefits in a tone that came across as quite harsh. When I reiterated that I was open to discussion and asked again about the salary banding, she quickly shut the question down and rushed to end the interview without asking if I had any questions.
Five minutes after the call ended, I received an email stating they would not be progressing with my application.
Overall, the experience felt impersonal, dismissive, and not in line with the values I associate with the L’Occitane brand. I hope they review their recruitment approach to better reflect the warmth, professionalism, and care they aim to represent to customers.