I was proactively contacted by a recruiter for this role; I did not apply. Based on the initial outreach and recruiter conversations, the role and expectations were presented in a specific way that ultimately did not align with what surfaced later in the process. After a recruiter screen and an interview with the hiring manager, I was asked to complete an extensive take-home assignment involving raw data analysis, spreadsheet creation, and a full presentation. This work required a substantial time investment outside of normal work hours while I was working full time.
As the interview process progressed, expectations for the role became increasingly unclear and inconsistent. Some interviewers emphasized deep hands-on raw data analysis, while others stated that the role would rely on existing tools and platforms that already aggregate data. Additional interviews focused heavily on Pardot and Salesforce expertise, which was not reflected in the take-home assignment. These discrepancies differed not only between interviewers, but also from the expectations originally set by the recruiter.
After receiving positive feedback, I was invited to a multi-hour, on-site interview day that required taking a full day off work and paying out-of-pocket for travel. The day included a panel presentation review, a cross-functional interview, and a final interview with the hiring manager. During the final interview, the hiring manager appeared disengaged, and my questions were met with limited interest. Overall, the process demonstrated a lack of role clarity and limited sensitivity to candidate time, effort, and personal expense.
