Disappointing Candidate Experience Due to Poor Communication
I recently went through the interview process for an AI/QA-related role and unfortunately had a very disappointing candidate experience despite successfully clearing multiple rounds.
I cleared the initial technical rounds and was then scheduled for a client discussion. Prior to the client round, I was asked to remove internship experience from my LinkedIn profile because the client would be reviewing my profile, which I found unusual.
During the process, I was repeatedly asked whether I could leave my current employer immediately or abscond, which made me uncomfortable. Candidates should not be pressured into making such decisions before an offer is finalized.
After completing the client round, I was informed that the client wanted to meet me in person for a "discussion." I specifically confirmed multiple times with HR whether this would be another interview or simply a discussion, and I was told it would only be a small discussion.
The scheduling itself was confusing. Initially, I was told to report at 11 AM. The next morning, the timing was changed to 3 PM. A few hours later, I received another call asking me to come at 11 AM again. This created unnecessary confusion and reflected poor coordination.
I traveled approximately 13 km to the office expecting the discussion that had been communicated to me. Instead, I was surprised with an unannounced whiteboard interview. Had I been informed beforehand, I would have prepared accordingly. Conducting an additional technical evaluation is completely acceptable, but candidates should be informed in advance so they can prepare and manage expectations.
After investing significant time across multiple interview rounds, traveling to the office, and participating in an unexpected whiteboard session, I received no clear communication regarding the outcome. The lack of follow-up further added to the frustration.
My feedback is simple:
* Be transparent about interview stages.
* Do not describe a technical evaluation as a discussion.
* Improve scheduling coordination.
* Respect candidates' time and effort.
* Provide timely communication after final rounds.
The technical rounds themselves were fair, but the overall candidate experience and communication process need significant improvement.