Met with the recruiter based in Germany. I applied to a specific role, and she reached out offering a completely different role. I clarified my interest leaning on the one I applied to, but that I was open to learning about both.
After speaking, she asked very basic question. She said I would still meet both roles and let me choose which one to proceed with. She was then going to put me forward to meet with the hiring manager. I never heard back on scheduling so I had to follow up, she told me a different recruiter would be reaching out. That recruiter never did so I, once again, had to follow up. This already being a poor experience and kind of unprofessional.
The original recruiter let me know that the role was being put on pause as they were reevaluating the said requirements. She said she'd let me know once the search continued and the team established requirements (something that should really be established from the get-go). The misalignment and messy experience speaks on the lack of strategy and culture.
I said I understood and to keep me updated. 18 days later after not hearing anything, which is the recruiter's main job (ie. screen, communicate, update, coordinate interviews), I'm told they found a candidate and closed the role.
All in all, extremely unprofessional on the recruiting process and people team.