Really and truly, don’t bother applying. Internal hires will get selected over you, and you’ll receive a generic response, as if you were never one of the final candidates.
From the first stage interview, to spending your own time creating work in After Effects following their brand guidelines, to showing up in person and agreeing to early times to accommodate their time management, and even being told in the interview that the job entails wearing multiple hats. Only to wait a week for a basic, soulless reply. Not even a separate email, but in response to the submitted task file originally submitted.
Asking for feedback is redundant. I was told my work lacked visual storytelling, despite submitting an animation plus a full written explanation outlining the subject and meaning behind the motion graphic. And let’s not forget they asked for the video in three different formats.
On top of that, requesting “creative direction” for an entry-level role is honestly just exploitative.
Maybe I burned a bridge, but after having my time, energy, and effort wasted just to be dismissed like I was never seriously considered, I’d say it’s a bridge worth burning.