Ludicrous interview process. After a surprisingly in-depth phone interview with the HR recruiter, I was given an online personality test to complete before being scheduled for my in-person interview. The personality test was at least 45 minutes of answering inane questions that would make just as much sense if I was interviewing to work at a day care center or as a janitor rather than a merchandise analyst in a corporate setting.
The in-person interview wasn't a panel, but three solid hours broken up into half-hour interviews with 1-2 people at a time. That means I got to answer the same standard interview questions 6 different times. By the third interview session, I simply started omitting details about my past because I was sick of repeating myself. The interview questions themselves were standard and everyone except the directors were friendly and welcoming.
To top it all off, after going through hours and hours of the interview process, I was never even notified about whether I had been accepted or rejected. I eventually followed up a week or so after my thank you letters went out and was ignored.
Then a couple months later they said there was a similar position that I could interview for, so they brought me back in for ANOTHER 3 hour interview process. Half the people I had already interviewed with the first time. Once again, I received friendly, glowing people during the interview and no follow up afterwards.
I'd also like to note that the actual interview took place in the most disgusting meeting room I've ever seen. Chairs were torn, the desk was chewed up, the walls were dirty, the carpet was stained...it was a terrible first impression to show a potential employee. While waiting in the meeting room, I could overhear the secretary as she explained to a co-worker how she was being laid off from her temp position so they could bring in a fresh temp to replace her instead of hiring her.
Years later, I still wonder whether there was even a position open or if they were just using me as a mock interview to sharpen up their own interview skills as part of their personal development plan. The job postings never went away, so it doesn't seem like they ever filled them. I guess they could also be trying to cherry pick over-qualified candidates to underpay for a non-managerial position...but the end result is the same. A gigantic waste of time for everyone involved.