It was the most unprofessional and unpleasant experience I've ever had. Not because of the outcome (I've been rejected some times before, with no hard feelings - that is life!), but because of the unstructured, unclear and inconsiderate process:
1- I was contacted in August 2021 by Spotify to participate in the Account director process, which I accepted
2-. After doing 4 interviews in 2 weeks (smooth and quick process, great interviewers), HR contacted me about 3 weeks later with no response or feedback on the process, but offering another position (AM), which I expressed interest in. I asked if I could have the feedback on the initial process, with no answer.
3- . Literally one month later, after me following up, HR confirmed they would set up an interview that week for the AM role. They did not, and just ghosted me.
4-. After a month, with no hopes at all, I just sent my feedback on the very disappointing process to HR, hoping they'd implement it with future candidates. I received an immediate call from HR apologizing, and asking if I was still interested to set up an interview. I said yes, with conditions: to be clear on the steps of the process, and the timeline, to decide I wanted to invest that time and efforts. HR confirmed there was just ONE MORE interview. And nothing more. I accepted.
5-. I did that interview, and after more than a week, I was asked to do a second interview. I was shocked. I should've let it go by this point, but I'm such a big fan of Spotify, that I didn't.
6-. I did the second interview and asked HR to please confirm if there was any other interview or task. They did not.
7-. When I was again expecting the final answer, after 2 weeks, HR sent me a FINAL TASK. They gave me 2 days to complete 1 PPT with 7 slides and an excel file with a media plan (I asked for an extra day).
8-. I worked my socks off in that task, while juggling my family life and my full time job. I sent it on 15th of December, and I had to follow up several times. Apparently they were massively hiring and had some delays (which I understand, but this comes from a lack of planning, and a poor candidate experience that has no guidelines and doesn't know what to expect).
9-. I received an email a month later (18th January), asking for a FINAL CALL. At this point I was very, very frustrated and expressed it in an email, although always polite and open to the final call only if it was REALLY final.
10-. In the final call, I was asked by a mistake I made in my excel (I forgot to add the K (000) in a column, though it was clear it should've been K, and that's how the question was asked). Instead of making something up, I openly admitted I forgot to add that detail, though the Hiring Manager (who was very nice) told me there was no need to go into details, the media plan was very clear and everything made sense, the team was just wondering if I forgot to add it or if it was the way I wrote it in my company. I received great feedback about all interviews, and PPT.
11-. (Yes, this goes on!) HR sent me an email to have a video call. I wondered why it was video, since my previous call with the hiring manager was just a phone call.
12-. HR told me I was not selected in the video call, with very specific feedback: because of the mistake in the excel file. Everything else was great. Quoting "If your salary expectations were 10K-15K lower, then we would've overlooked that mistake. But for the level of salary you asked, we can't.", and also "if it was for a junior level, this mistake is teachable". So I said the rejection was fine - as in any process. The reason though, it was not.
Tell me about my experience not meeting the profile you're looking for, the level of other candidates, the salary, or my skills not matching. But as I told them, the mistake was like a typo. Also, I could've make an excuse, but didn't: we all make mistakes, and that one wasn't a deal breaker at all. Picking that as a reason to reject someone, tells more about your company than about the candidate.
Also, the fact that you present it related to the salary, it's really undermining: my salary expectations are based on what I'm making now, and the value of my professional career . To make a mistake in an excel does not lower my value by 10-15K, and it's not cool that any company is able to articulate this.
On top of that, a mistake is not something "teachable". A lack of skills, experience or knowledge: that is. A mistake or a typo is not.
Advice to the company:
- Please, structure your HR process, give a full picture (steps and timelines) to the candidates and STICK TO IT.
- Treat candidates with respect.
I was the biggest fan of Spotify, and that's why I went through all the process. I wanted to give it all. I have over 10 years of experience, and been rejected before. I had a great memories of those experiences, professional and nice. With Spotify though - the worst experience I ever had, from start to end.
