1) Phone screen with recruiter: 30min
2) Phone interview with hiring manager: 30-45min
3) WebEx with peer, peer manager, hiring manager, and Finance Director: 4 hours
4) WebEx with HR business partner: 1 hour
5) WebEx with cross-functional partner, peer manager, Finance Exec: 3 hours
I spent 9 hours on 5 separate days spanning over 1.5 months interviewing with the team as described above. After the final round, I sent a Thank You note and follow up messages after not hearing back for a while. What I received exactly 1 month later from my last interview was an auto-email saying “Thank you for your interest in CooperVision. We have selected another candidate whose qualifications met our requirements.” I responded asking for feedback on what I could work on for future searches and no responses. In the spirit of transparency, the least the team at CooperVision in San Ramon and NY could do is to write a personal email saying 1-2 things the candidate can focus on in the future. The year 2020 is mentally draining in itself and candidates who spend a lot of time and effort prepping for interviews just to get an auto-email is unprofessional. The recruiter kept in touch weekly since interviews were every other week where they would tell you “we just want to make sure you don’t lose interest in us, we’re challenged with scheduling interviews.” It was odd that after the final interview, they went silent.
The team seemed very protective of their culture and asked a lot situational questions. The exec mentioned that they want to ensure whoever they add is a good fit. They emphasized that one of their core values is FRIENDLY and that they apply this in their work. Though I felt I connected with most interviewers, the style of communicating the decision was very UNFRIENDLY. I didn’t get the job, but this experience was eye opening enough to prompt a review, which I don’t typically do.
CooperVision, I hope you’re more transparent with your candidates or don’t pull them in all the way to the final round if you have other candidates in mind.