It was the usual experience of meeting the manager and team, and then taking some HR personality test(s). The expectations for the writing sample were a little unrealistic. I thought I did well, considering I made it through all the interview steps, but my writing sample might have been too stiff. It’s difficult to write about a product and company you haven’t worked with yet. I’m hoping they weren’t just farming samples. I’ll never know. I write in straightforward, plain language without all the sales fluff, so I just don’t think it was a good fit. I saw that the position opened up again within a couple of weeks. I asked to be considered again, but I was ignored, which wasn’t professional, in my opinion. They displayed a lack of openness. I’m an experienced writer, so I can adapt my style, but it’s unrealistic to ask someone to do the job before they’re even hired.

5 interviews (including initial screen), plus an assessment and a writing exercise. After 7 weeks, an offer was made. However, the offer was 9K lower than the lowest end of my range and the number the recruiter gave me only one working day before the offer was made. They would not negotiate the bottom line at all. Some other things occurred that made me decline the offer. The recruiter was great--the issue was clearly higher up. Definitely a shame.