I had the audacity to be unavailable at the two time slots they proposed (the 2nd being with 18 hours’ notice)- so they then declined to continue my application. They referred to these proposed times as “scheduled” interviews even though I had not accepted them - which really shows their thought process. Like most other applicants I am still employed elsewhere and so my priority has to lie to my current employer. As a hiring manager myself this is actually a preferred work ethic to see in a candidate.
Whilst their arrogance is breathtaking, the silver lining is it gave me good insight to their corporate culture very early on in the process - so avoided me wasting further time on them . A healthy, respectful culture is very much a pre-requisite for me at this stage in my career and their behaviour was a clear red flag that this is not a company I would want to be part of. Interestingly a (male) contact at the company reported a very different hiring experience as he had to rearrange genuinely scheduled appointments on several occasions and at the last minute. So what am I left to deduce- that they couldn’t believe a female would have other conflicts? That a little woman should have been more grateful for the chance to meet with them and dropped everything immediately ? Who knows - but bullet dodged!