Overall, turned out to be an unpleasant experience and a big waste of time – more than 6 weeks of “processes” and “updates”.
I had to complete about 6 different interviews, tests and plenty of phone calls that all went “great” and Ingram kept saying – “we remain very interested”. Be careful about understanding words such as “very interested” since they can actually mean nothing at the end.
The biggest problem with the company’s approach to interviewing is the fact that they will act like your salary expectations are just fine from the very first HR screen and then later in means nothing. That is simply wrong!
They do play the following games: 1) waiting with comments such as “we are very interested”, 2) keep lowering the “possible offer”, 3) making it look like something is being decided, 4) “you are so great, we are reviewing you for another, better position!” – caution – waiting game again.
Initially, the HR person was absolutely fine with my salary expectations but somehow, after all “great” interviews, every time he came back with $10-15k lower “possible range”. I felt like I was tested whether I stand my ground and understand the self-worth value. I did remind them about the expectations I have discussed every time, however, the HR person did not act like it essential for me. There should be salary negotiations, but it is unethical to proceed with 6 interviews and make wait to announce a whopping $40k lower “maxing possible base”!! How can you even proceed with a candidate while knowing that “the possible offer” could be completely off ???
Anyway, after a longer than 2 weeks waiting game, I pushed the recruiter to “update” me on where we stand. He called and stated the following: 1) “the possible offer is $40k less than what I was expecting, 2) if I agree to that number, there will be “no merit pay” – very unusual, 3) “we feel that you can be at a higher level”.
SO, here was my BIG test of Ingram – I asked “if I were to accept the offer of $40k lower, what is the process and long would it take (we were 6 weeks into the process)”. Behold for the best answer possible!! – “Everyone is ready not to proceed. It would look strange if you were to accept a much lower offer” ????!!!%%%??? Why did you even call and give that much lower number to me??? At that point, after a wasteful 6 weeks of my time, I said farewell Ingram.
I maybe missing something, but this was a very strange approach to finding a candidate.
