Softrock postures as a fun, family environment, but it’s a façade. In reality, they are cold as ice. The first indication of this is your notification of interest (a text message they sent stating: “We’ve had an opportunity to review your resume and would like to speak with you.” It did not identify the origin of the message. I almost ignored it, because I’ve never received a text message reply to an application for a job, which is as impersonal as it gets. This was the first red flag. When I called them, I was immediately and unexpectedly interviewed (the first of three) over the phone and asked to come to their office for another interview this afternoon (just a few hours later). I was surprised to have been interviewed in this way and imposed to drop everything to come their office for a second interview the same day. This was the second red flag.
I could not go to their office on this day, but I did go the next day. I was interviewed again and asked to return the next morning for a third interview. I did not expect to return so suddenly, and I already had a doctor’s appointment at the scheduled for the same time. However, I cancelled the doctor’s appointment and went for the third interview the following morning. The interviewer had no concern about what kind of doctor appointment it was (I was unable to get another appointment for 3 weeks); he was more concerned about their convenience and getting me through their process. This was the third red flag.
Before my departure after the first face-to-face interview, I was asked to comment on videotaped in a production room set up for this purpose about the interview and my impression of the company. I reluctantly agreed, but I did not know enough about the company at this point in time to give an informed opinion. I think the timing is deliberate – designed to capture your remarks at the outset of the interview process when you’re likely to provide a favorable opinion of company. Even though I was not an employee at this time, it demonstrated how self-serving and insensitive they are (given their notification on such short notice about the recording and my doctor’s appointment) and how they really treat “family.”
When I returned the next morning for the third interview, to my surprise, there was no interview whatsoever. Instead, I (and a large group of other candidates) herded into a large room and shown a propaganda video about the company full of images of happy employees engaging in activities and community service projects, which is commendable, but not the stated purpose of this “interview.” The company should not call this an interview, because it is not. It underscores the lack of value of people and their time. This could be facilitated with an on-demand video, or at a minimum the company should have characterized this meeting accurately. This was the fourth red flag.
After spending a lot of time accommodating the company’s request on very short notice for 3 interviews in the span of two days, jumping through the hoop for them and cancelling other appointments to do so, the company has not even given the courtesy or consideration to notify me that I was not selected to return for the 5th and 6th (last stages of their process) interviews. I’m not surprised; it’s consistent with my whole experience with Softrock and the way they really value people. I think the company is a fraud in the way that it projects its image to candidates, and what the actually do is more demonstrative of who they really are: cold as ice! Even if I were offered a position at this point in time, there are too many red flags to ignore, and I would decline. I would strongly suggest you look past the façade before making a decision to join this company. It my objective opinion, based on my experience and their indifference to people (and I am sure this extends to employees), Softrock does not rock!
I was initially impressed with Softrock’s ratings on Glassdoor.com, but I now believe many of these very favorable comments are fabrications, inaccurate and not the reality of the company. Actions certainly speak much louder than words! To Softrock: I am not angry about not getting the job, but I am very disappointed about being manipulated and your disrespected. This is not how an employer should treat candidates (possible future family members), and it certainly is not indicative of any real “family” environment at Softrock.
