I applied for the Events Manager role, I had a phone interview and then 2 different face to face interviews. At the end of the 3rd interview, I was offered a role of an Events Coordinator instead which I was pleased to accept. I was told to ask my current employer if I was able to have an earlier leave date, and requested references before a formal contract was sent. Both recruiters knew I had a meeting with my current Managing Director and I sent my current colleagues email for a reference. They later emailed me at 5:25pm after I sent them all the info they needed, to tell me they actually decided to not proceed with my application. They were aware I had spoken with my MD about my leave date. The reason they stated was that 'I didn't tell them' about a passion project of mine, EVEN THOUGH this is disclosed in my CV (clearly didn't read through my CV properly, even though they had my CV with them during both interviews). I emailed them back asking to at-least discuss this on the phone, of course I didn't receive a reply. So I emailed again, explaining the effect this news had on me after I was asked to speak with my team about a leave date. I showed them the image where I did disclose this information. I also explained that this type of news is delivered/discussed via a phone call or a zoom meeting (the respectful thing to do?) The reply I received was so blunt and dismissive it basically said "we apologise for any inconvenience caused". They clearly do not value employees as people, they look at you as a number and thats it. I was really disappointed that I was treated this way, and I understand that sometimes the job may not pull through but you're playing with peoples lives especially at a time like this. I wouldn't have written this review if I was treated with respect when delivering the news to me. Unfortunately this was not the case. Some other red flags I picked during the interview, I asked them in about 5 different ways what the work culture is like / the office dynamic. Each time, I did not get a clear answer - they always replied with what my job role consisted of. My first 2 interviews were with an employee who was not even in the events team and she couldn't answer some of my questions. I was really confused why she was interviewing me. Neither interviewer really introduced themselves or who they were. Overall - they seem unprofessional, inconsiderate, they don't value you as a person.

The process took place in two stages: an online interview followed by an in-person one. During the second stage, I was asked to complete a handwritten questionnaire within a limited timeframe. The questions ranged from my general understanding of sustainability to practical ways of driving change, including marketing strategies. You wont be approved to start the role until your referees have responded to the reference enquiry.