I recently completed an absurd 10-week interview process for a Senior Manager role at Ferrara, and the experience was far below what I would expect from an organization of this size and maturity. The process included a phone screen, a hiring manager interview, three separate personality assessments, the Watson-Glaser test, and a five-person panel interview. The amount of time, preparation, and energy required for each stage might be reasonable for a VP or executive position, but for a senior manager role, it was disproportionate and ultimately unnecessary.
What made this more disappointing was how disconnected the process felt from the actual responsibilities of the role. The assessments contributed little to understanding my capabilities, and the Watson-Glaser in particular felt like an outdated hurdle rather than a relevant evaluation tool. You don't even get to see your score after submitting. Save yourself the trouble and just run all the questions though ChatGPT.
After investing weeks into assessments and preparation, reaching a panel of interviewers who seemed disengaged and misaligned on expectations was discouraging.
Communication throughout the process was also inconsistent. Timelines were missed without acknowledgment, and updates were sparse unless I requested them. For a company that emphasizes process and operational excellence, the candidate journey reflected the opposite: inefficient, opaque, and overly burdensome.
Candidates applying for senior roles deserve a process that respects their time and expertise. Ferrara would benefit from streamlining its approach, reducing redundant assessments, and providing clear communication at every stage.