I was contacted by a recruiter from Flexport asking if I was interested in learning more about the role and position. I had heard of Flexport and was interested in what they had to say so I accepted. I had a phone interview with the Global Head of Talent. It was very patchy and disengaged but I seem to have passed that test and was invited to come onsite for a one hour interview with a person currently in the role for which I was being considered. The conversation went great...we talked for over an hour and it was a very natural and ranging conversation. I was invited back the next week for interviews with three others...two that would be colleagues and one who would be my supervisor. The first (colleague) went great and they almost forgot to ask their pre-assigned scenario question. Although I do come from the industry, it was a softball question by any estimation. The next was with the person who would be my boss. Again, we had a very natural conversation. Towards the middle of our chat we moved to the assessment portion of the interview in which she gave me a very general overview of a situation and 4 questions. Rather than answer the questions we talked through the situation....she never actually asked the questions listed. Finally there was an interview with another who would be a tangential colleague. This was a bit rushed because we went overtime on the first two but it was also a very organic conversation. I left feeling very good. I knew it could not have gone better. A week later I received an email saying that "It was a very difficult decision because they all enjoyed getting to know me but my skills were not a match at this time". They asked if I would like feedback (I'm not sure who would say no...just give the feedback). I was told that there was one specific thing they wanted to hear me talk about but I didnt address.
The point I want to make clear is that they have an extremely discrete concept that they want discussed. I've gone back and forth on whether or not to say what it is and have decided that out of respect for them I will not. I will say to Flexport that if there is one particular item that is so consequential that employment hangs in the balance, ask the question. Dont just assume that in a ranging conversation I'll automatically hit on the one very narrow item you're interested in. Just ask!
Otherwise, I found everyone I interacted with to be pleasant, professional, engaging, and driven. I believe in what they're doing and know it's absolutely the way of the future for the industry. They still have a ways to go with regards to their recruitment strategy. Currently it seems to be the shotgun method...a volume based strategy trying to get as many interviewees in the door as possible. While I appreciate selectivity it would seem that they're undertaking a strategy that is not exactly respectful of the time it takes to come onsite for two rounds of interviews.