Update 12/6/23 - less than a week later to rub this in my face I received the below email from them… “During the last month you received an offer of employment from Booz Allen. We’re honored that you considered our organization in your career search. Since your time is valuable, it’s important for us to understand more about your experience during the hiring and offer process to improve our overall candidate journey. Your participation will take no longer than 5 minutes. Thank you for helping us improve our candidate experience. To start the survey, click here. The Booz Allen Talent Acquisition Team” Seriously 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ This is regarding a recent recruiting experience I had with them that spanned from beginning of September. The team I was interviewing with has major integrity and forthright communication issues. Sept 7th - I had phone with them to talk about role and qualifications. Of course compensations expectations were discussed. I asked specifically your post said the range was up to $166k, is that correct? Recruiter answered yes that is and I proceeded to say my expectation would be around $120k. Reasonable for that range? I was told I am a great fit and next steps would be to schedule an on site interview in 3 weeks after I am back from my Europe trip. (Yes I took the phone screen when I was in Italy for vacation). I gave him my availability of the week I return over the phone. Sept 27th - 3 weeks later, after me sending multiple emails to follow up about the on site interview. And getting the same question 3x - what’s your availability to which I replied with the same info that was shared on the call initially. I finally emailed them again telling them I am back only to get that availability question once more. But next day I got an email saying no they decided to go with someone internal for the role. Ok fine things I guess happen quickly with them. I move on. October 10th - about two weeks after I was told they hired someone internally the recruiter reached out again asking if I am still interested if so the team would like to meet with me. I said sure of course. This would be an on site interview. Oct 16th - interviews finally set. But nope it wasn’t on site but virtual because team was traveling. One of them was currently in Korea and the hiring manager was in DC. And a third member from California. I asked what happened to the internal candidate did he/she decided it wasn’t a good fit after 2 weeks? I was told oh there must have been some miscommunications there was never an internal candidate. At this point I was thinking ok your team and HR don’t have your things together but it’s ok at least we are interviewing. In the interview hiring manager said role was raised to be on site 5 days a week but she deferred to the other locally based lead for the Hawaii office schedules. That lead said Hawaii office is hybrid currently. So it wasn’t clear to me what exactly was the expectations here since the role is based in Hawaii. As HR supporting the office and employees here and Asia, i was expected to work with East coast team and Asia team. I assumed the remote vs on site would have some flexibility. Oct 31st - next round interview set with business leader. When I asked about the on site vs remote situation of the office he also answered it was hybrid depending on the team. And also emphasized how Booz Allen puts employees first and have a flexible culture. Nov 21st - I followed up in between these times and was told they are finishing the interview process. Finally got an email saying I have some exciting news for you and asked what my availability was over next two days. I responded expecting to hear on one of the two days. Nope nothing. Since it was Thanksgiving week I was like ok and sent him my availability for the following week on Sunday. (Thinking this whole time this recruiter is pretty bad already) Nov 27th - talked to recruiter got the verbal offer. Salary was $118k and but negotiable. So I asked him to go to $125k and to clarify the on working situation was this hybrid or on site? He subsequently sets up a time w me and hiring manager for next day to discuss bc he doesn’t know the details. But he said most of the HR team are remote and come in once or twice a month. Nov 28th - talked to hiring manager and she agreed to my ask of $125k and said I can give you that number bc you all know we have a range . But understand that if you get this now the next time there is a raise you will get the bare minimum. I of course understood and was fine with that. We agreed that it would be 4 days a week with Fridays remote and that office hours are somewhat 9-3pm or 4pm with understanding that I need to take early morning calls with east coast and late evening calls with Asia. We will revisit this topic again in a few months after I get ramped up and gain credibility. I agreed. We talked about start date and the first work trip to the east coast to meet with the team in early Feb. She said to expect the offer tomorrow and emphasized well you have my number and email if you have any questions reach out to me. Nov 29th - I got email to complete background check information. I completed the step and waited for offer email. Nov 30th - got a call from recruiter saying they decided to go in a different direction. The two contentions being my ask for salary was too high and they wanted someone on site 5 days a week. But I was like ?!?!? First of all you were the one who said salary was negotiable and hiring manager agreed on our call on Tuesday! I then said well there was no indication that the initial offer was the final with no room for negotiation and the hiring manager agreed!! Recruiter apologized and said he would go back and ask if original offer stands. But explained his manager already got involved and the team decided this was the way. He told me I would hear back from him by end of day yesterday. Did I? Of course not. Dec 1st - still no word from them so I checked in via email and got his OOO till next Tuesday. Here I am thinking great. Yet another cliff hanger. But then subsequently got an email from him saying the team’s decision will not change and that was it. Conclusion - I am baffled and speechless at how this happened. How they emphasized employees first and a great culture with great integrity. NONE of those values were displayed throughout this process. You need to second guess everything they say and figure out what the cards on the table are. DO NOT be forthright with your questions, not even to clarify and just decide if this is the type of company you want to work for. 5 days in the office when majority of employees are hybrid and you are expected to work extra mornings and evenings with no flexibility. They may say they are a top tier consulting firm but how this all went down is an insult to me. I have worked in HR for the last 15 years at Towers Watson, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and few other bulge bracket banks in HR. Never have I heard of anyone from these firms doing this to candidates and not walking the walk in this manner. To whoever who took the job, know that you can get paid $120k if you are below the $100k mark. #recruiting #professionalism #hrbestpractices #recruitingnightmare #shitshow
Not super surprised tbh. In my experience, BAH stretches folks really thin (unless you’re fine coasting and never getting promoted) plus top-down expectations can be pretty unreasonable, forcing managers/leads to put more pressure on those lower down the totem pole. Sh*t rolls down hill here. Maybe that’s not so uncommon though. Sorry you had to deal with awful experience. Might’ve dodged a bullet
Wow, I work at Booz and this is the worst recruiting experience I’ve ever heard. Based on my experience at the firm, there’s a few things that I’ve noticed: 1. Our recruiters are legit awful! (Sorry you had to experience this btw). They’re always disorganized and just never aware of what’s going on even for internal recruiting. 2. The salary ranges on job postings are BS. Just know the closer you ask for the top of the band, that’s the top of the salary you will reach for the position; hence, the recruiter mentioning low salary increase after. I’m glad you dodged that bullet and I hope you find a better role soon!