I applied online. The process took 1 week. I interviewed at WilsonCTS (Toronto, ON) in Aug 2019
Interview
I applied through Indeed to a healthcare service provider client of WCTS.
(For the sake of respect, all names/affiliations will be kept anonymous.)
A few days later, I was contacted by WCTS from the agency to answer some screening questions and scheduled the first interview with the client's HR team. I was informed that this would be the only interview and that the pay rate would be set by WCTS (which was grossly under market value given the role).
The 1st interview was ~ 45 minutes long and was a walkthrough of my experience and answering some behavioural questions. I made sure to do my research and came armed with 10 questions of interest.
After the interview, I followed up with WCTS who later informed me that the team enjoyed the depth and thoughtfulness of my questions and wanted to hold a second interview for the same role, but under a different portfolio.
I attended the second interview which was also 45 minutes and geared along with the same framework as the first. Afterwards, I was told that I'd receive feedback from the recruiter in 1-2 business days.
On the second day, I called WCTS twice to get feedback and sent e-mails. A few minutes later, I received a call and after a few seconds of small talk, I was informed that the client didn't want to pursue my application any further at this time.
The excuse that was provided for my unsuccessful application was that I stated that I "assisted in tasks and duties in my experience, and didn't take charge of my accomplishments", which is hogwash.
Even though "my experience and skills were valuable" and "my questions were clever", I did not and could not honestly say that I managed certain aspects of former roles since I did not. While I did manage the operations of my portfolios, I will not lie about former experience. Doing so would be dishonest.
I voiced my disappointment to WCTS about being brought in for a second interview for the same role when the management team knew full-well that this wasn't going to go anywhere. I don't think HR professionals, etc. even bother to think of the time, money and effort invested into job hunting, and dragging me in for a second interview when there was only supposed to be one, is just cruel. I am a fellow HR professional and to sleight "one of your own" in an already close-knit community is beyond shameful. WCTS doesn't seem very sympathetic, and in our latter half of the exchange, promised to "keep in touch with future opportunities."
I should've paid greater attention to the team's body/verbal language towards the end of my interview. Saying things like "all the best" and "thank you for your time" is a kiss of death, nonetheless patronizing, when the team KNEW that I wasn't going to be hired from the end of the 1st interview. I realized that it was over when I saw the role re-posted on Glassdoor yesterday.
I won't recommend this agency to anyone I know in the future and am considering writing off working with agencies altogether.
Very casual and relaxed. Nice and easy to talk to. Asked behavioural and situational questions. Not structure but that made it more calming. The interviewers were great and asked a variety of questions. QUestions were mostly about my expreince and about culture fit.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell us about a time when you showed leadership abilities?