The whole interview process took two months. I applied around Christmas time and was referred by an internal employee. I heard back about 2-3 weeks later about scheduling a phone interview with HR. I heard back within 24 hours on scheduling another phone interview with the hiring manager for that same week. So I had 2 phone interviews within in a few days of each other and it seemed like the interview process was moving very quickly.
Then the process hit a snag. I followed up each week trying to get an update and was told there were internal things to sort out. Finally, I heard back after weeks and was told that the third and final interview was a panel interview that would last 4 hours. I was asked to provide my availability but did not hear back until after the 2-week time window expired.
I emailed HR once or twice and did not hear back, so I emailed the hiring manager. He advised me that there was an internal delay and they were sorting some things out. I was then asked to provide an additional 2-week period of 4-hour time blocks. A time was finally locked down, I was given an interview challenge and asked to prepare a 10-15 presentation given a specific project manager scenario.
I probably put in 15-20 hours total between all the interviews, the presentation, and all of my research. This is the hardest I have ever worked to get an interview in my life. They really put me through the ringer and I still received a generic, business professional email rejection, which thanked me for my time and effort, etc. If you only hire the best and have high standards, that is fine; but please extend the same sentiment to your hiring practices. A phone call would have been greatly appreciated considering how much effort you expect candidates to put into the interviewing process.
