I was encouraged to apply by my friend who had recently got the same job, I applied online using the link she had used to apply, I was then left a voicemail a week later saying they were unable to contact me and to ring back but I couldn't ring back because they had left the wrong number that didn't exist. I went on their website and had to be redirected to where I needed to be, they informed me that someone would be ringing me back to speak to me about the role. I was rang back about 30 minutes later and i assumed it was to only discuss the role as my friend who referred me told me that they rang her to only tell her about the role and what she would be doing, however, 5 minutes in I had to do a technical test which I obviously hadn't prepared for because no one had told me, however I still got 100%, then I had to do a short interview where I was asked the usual questions, I was put on hold for a further 5 minutes after the interview and I was told there and then that I had been successful and would be invited back for an assessment day.
The assessment day was the next day which was such short notice, I again barely had any time to prepare, I was also sent an email confirming this but no other information about the interview, that came from my friend again as they had sent her details such as what would be happening in the interview, what would be asked along with tips, I wasn't given any of this information which is obviously quite unfair and gave me a disadvantage. I was told the assessment would be a group assessment so was expecting other candidates to be there when I arrived at 10:45am the next day, no one else had turned up.
I was escorted to the interview room which was at the very bottom of the call centre room and was quite intimidating walking past all of the employees, there was 3 people conducting the assessment. In the assessment I again had to do another technical test which was pretty much exactly the same as the one I had had the day before so seemed pointless, to pass the test you need 70% and if you failed the assessment will be terminated, I got 95%. Next I had to do a typing test online, you had to type more than 21 words per minute with less than 6 mistakes, I was typing 48 words per minute and made only 2 mistakes. Roleplay was next and lasted 15 minutes, 10 minutes for preparation and 5 minutes for the actual roleplay, I was given a sheet which had the scenario on and solutions I could suggest, I was told I could hand the 'customer' over to the 'supervisor' if needs be and they would suggest tips to help me along the way. In the end I did put them through to the 'supervisor' and he sat in silence was said "are you handing them over to me...that's the end of the roleplay". Obviously I thought that was where I made the mistake, however, I discussed this with my friend and she did the exact same thing and she was provided with answers, I was then told I had failed by 4 marks and the assessment was over, I had prepared mainly for the interview and wasn't able to actually complete it.
VERY unfair interview process and although the assessment was casual and was easy for some parts, I think EVERY candidate that applies should be entitled to the same treatment and I'm not sure why I wasn't given any information compared to others and why my process was different.