I applied online. I interviewed at Walker Sands (Chicago, IL) in Mar 2026
Interview
The recruiting process was initially thorough well-organized through five rounds of interviews, and communication from the recruiter was consistently prompt and professional throughout. However, after receiving an email inviting me to schedule a final round interview with the senior leadership and submitting my availability that same day, all communication stopped. Despite two follow-up emails over the following two weeks, I literally never received a response, a scheduled interview, or a formal rejection email. The recruiter completely ghosted me.
Considering the significant time investment required of candidates in this process, including multiple interview rounds and a full marketing strategy presentation to a panel (for which they asked me to spend 5+ hours on) I would have appreciated a simple note acknowledging the delay or communicating that the position was no longer moving forward. A two-sentence email would have been an easy and respectful thing to do. Candidates invest considerable time and energy in good faith, and they deserve the same courtesy in return.
I had a phone screen with someone in talent acquisition who clearly outlined the timeline and next steps. After sending a thank-you email and follow-up, I didn't hear back for several days despite the company stating they wanted to hire quickly. Communication became unclear and the timeline wasn't honored. Even if you're not moving forward with a candidate, basic professional courtesy would be to communicate that status to them.
Pros: - Recruiter was personable during the interview - Role seemed interesting
Cons: - Poor communication after initial interview - Slow follow-up - Lack of transparency about hiring timeline - Lengthy interview process (5 rounds)
A lot of companies talk the talk about their culture, only to have really poor communication during the hiring process. Also, this is a PR agency. It's a little ironic to have poor communication in the hiring process when the hiring process is usually the best version of how a company operates and presents itself.
I applied online. I interviewed at Walker Sands in Feb 2026
Interview
I applied online and was contacted by Amanda in HR for an initial interview. She was very positive about my background and sounded encouraging about next steps.
After the interview, I sent a thank-you email and then heard nothing for two weeks. When I finally sent a polite follow-up, I received an automated rejection within an hour saying Walker Sands had selected someone else.
Not being chosen is part of the process. But once a company has taken the time to interview someone, sending a personal rejection note is basic professional courtesy. An automated “no thanks” response after silence made the experience feel impersonal and poorly handled.