Knowing someone inside the company was very helpful. Many positions are re-thought as candidates come forward, and jobs will be tuned to talented people that Ascent sees as providing value beyond the advertised position; this leaves many job tasks unfulfilled, requiring retuning a group of advertised positions. It's best to present all your skills and interests, after highlighting that experience and skill-set which directly addresses the advertised position. This is particularly relevant in this company, as business development and M&A efforts may negate the original reasons to hire a position, but due to the time and effort put in during the interview process, Ascent may very likely call to see if you are interested in a different role, or just put you into a different role to fill a need for the time being.

The recruiter was the best I have ever worked with. Great at communicating and assisting in making the process as painless as possible. I interviewed with 6 executives, including the hiring manager. Sharp people who asked smart questions.