Curtiss-Wright, San Diego. I had an initial phone screen with HR. The engineering manager was scheduled to call me on a Thursday for a phone interview. He didn't call. I informed HR, and they rescheduled for the following day. Again no call from the engineering manger. About two weeks later (week before xmas) HR called again to reschedule. I told them that I would be out of town for the next two weeks, but I said I would make time for the interview and they could call me at the hotel. The day before the interview they e-mailed to say that they didn't want to interview me if I wouldn't be available to start work immediately (the week before xmas?). I told them that if they wanted, I would do the interview by phone and fly back home at my own expense to do an in-person interview. They said OK. I took the afternoon off and waited in my hotel room for the call, but of course, the engineerng manager never called.

Initial interviews are with HR personnel. While fine to learn about general aspects of the company, you'll have to make it to the next round of interviews to discuss technical issues.