The remote interview took place via Teams and began with polite introductions and an explanation that the selection had been processed using the "Applied" recruitment platform for unbiased, ethical hiring (thoughts explained later*). The interview was friendly and felt relatively informal. My proficiency of using 3D software, illustration techniques and professional experience was discussed in detail and I gave examples of successfully resolving challenging projects when asked. The interview seemed to have gone well and was followed by an email asking me to continue my application by completing a "test project", which had a deadline set for 7 days from the date of the email. The test project was an example of a brief that would be required within the role and was also actual content printed in one of HarperCollins books. The brief and specific requirements were detailed in full. The following day I had sent the two interviewers some of my illustrations which were discussed during the interview and which we had agreed that I would follow-up with examples. I received no response, what I would later discover would be a common theme during the process. The test project was fairly intricate and required 16 step by step images (2500x2500px) and 1 hero shot (2598x3614px), all of which were 3D rendered. The processes required to complete the brief, including 3D rendering, are fairly time-consuming. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to deliver the test brief by the given deadline. I politely emailed the interviewer the day after the deadline and explained the situation. They were kind and understanding of my circumstances and invited me to still send in my completed test project, regardless of having missed the deadline by 24 hours. I sent the project 20 minutes following this request and was informed "we’ll be reviewing your art and will get back to you before the end of the week", this confirmation was received on a Tuesday. This was to be the last correspondence that I would receive from HarperCollins without later chasing them for a response. I did not hear anything "before the end of the week" and decided to respectfully ask for clarification of the outcome of my application the following Monday (6 days later). Despite writing directly to both interviewers (as instructed), I received no response whatsoever. Two days later I sent yet another polite email asking the outcome of my application and eventually received an email from the Art Director (one of the interviewers) stating that they had gone with another applicant. I have absolutely no problem at having not being selected for the position, it is a part of any interview process after all and a great learning opportunity along the way. I also missed the deadline by 24 hours (although was still invited to continue to send my results), which is enough reason to have not been selected in itself. However, I was asked during the process to complete a very time-consuming test brief, in which I had delivered my best efforts. To have had two direct emails ignored throughout the process and to have had no clarification of outcome eight days after the initially confirmed three, is surprisingly unprofessional for such a prestigious book publisher. To ask an applicant to spend considerable time and effort to complete a test brief and then completely ignore them until having to be chased for a response is; inconsiderate of their time and effort, dismissive, disrespectful and in my humble opinion, rude. It highlights a potentially disorganised and unprofessional working environment. *My personal thoughts on what was highlighted as the ethical "Applied" recruitment process: Whilst I have no doubt that Applied have the best intentions of delivering a fair and ethical recruitment process, it does not, in any way, prevent applicants from being discriminated against. If a recruiter or employer wants to discriminate candidates on the grounds of, for example; age or gender, then they are completely able to do so during the initial interview, regardless of whether they use the Applied recruitment process or not.

The remote interview took place via Teams and began with polite introductions and an explanation that the selection had been processed using the "Applied" recruitment platform for unbiased, ethical hiring (thoughts explained later*). The interview was friendly and felt relatively informal. My proficiency of using 3D software, illustration techniques and professional experience was discussed in detail and I gave examples of successfully resolving challenging projects when asked. The interview seemed to have gone well and was followed by an email asking me to continue my application by completing a "test project", which had a deadline set for 7 days from the date of the email. The test project was an example of a brief that would be required within the role and was also actual content printed in one of HarperCollins books. The brief and specific requirements were detailed in full. The following day I had sent the two interviewers some of my illustrations which were discussed during the interview and which we had agreed that I would follow-up with examples. I received no response, what I would later discover would be a common theme during the process. The test project was fairly intricate and required 16 step by step images (2500x2500px) and 1 hero shot (2598x3614px), all of which were 3D rendered. The processes required to complete the brief, including 3D rendering, are fairly time-consuming. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to deliver the test brief by the given deadline. I politely emailed the interviewer the day after the deadline and explained the situation. They were kind and understanding of my circumstances and invited me to still send in my completed test project, regardless of having missed the deadline by 24 hours. I sent the project 20 minutes following this request and was informed "we’ll be reviewing your art and will get back to you before the end of the week", this confirmation was received on a Tuesday. This was to be the last correspondence that I would receive from HarperCollins without later chasing them for a response. I did not hear anything "before the end of the week" and decided to respectfully ask for clarification of the outcome of my application the following Monday (6 days later). Despite writing directly to both interviewers (as instructed), I received no response whatsoever. Two days later I sent yet another polite email asking the outcome of my application and eventually received an email from the Art Director (one of the interviewers) stating that they had gone with another applicant. I have absolutely no problem at having not being selected for the position, it is a part of any interview process after all and a great learning opportunity along the way. I also missed the deadline by 24 hours (although was still invited to continue to send my results), which is enough reason to have not been selected in itself. However, I was asked during the process to complete a very time-consuming test brief, in which I had delivered my best efforts. To have had two direct emails ignored throughout the process and to have had no clarification of outcome eight days after the initially confirmed three, is surprisingly unprofessional for such a prestigious book publisher. To ask an applicant to spend considerable time and effort to complete a test brief and then completely ignore them until having to be chased for a response is; inconsiderate of their time and effort, dismissive, disrespectful and in my humble opinion, rude. It highlights a potentially disorganised and unprofessional working environment. *My personal thoughts on what was highlighted as the ethical "Applied" recruitment process: Whilst I have no doubt that Applied have the best intentions of delivering a fair and ethical recruitment process, it does not, in any way, prevent applicants from being discriminated against. If a recruiter or employer wants to discriminate candidates on the grounds of, for example; age or gender, then they are completely able to do so during the initial interview, regardless of whether they use the Applied recruitment process or not.