Excruciatingly long, excruciatingly arduous, needlessly complicated process. Several phone screens, two IQ/problem solving online tests (the second watched through a webcam to make sure I didn't cheat), a Skype interview with the potential boss, and a multi-person, nearly 4 hour onsite interview.
From the very first phone screen, I was asked for minimum/middle/maximum salary ranges. I indicated clearly what those ranges were, and the recruiter agreed. On our second call, we again went over ranges and again agreed that my lowest rate was perfectly "within range".
When it came time to verbally discuss the offer, suddenly the discussion went from hourly rate to "overall compensation package". This term was not used until the verbal offer was presented; at no point was I told that overtime and bonus would be factored into my hourly rate .
The verbal offer was 10% less than my minimum hourly rate but included a bonus that, after nearly two years due to proration, would total out to the absolute minimum salary I indicated I would take from the very beginning. I was told they attempted to get it a little higher but were refused - the "little higher" was still $2000 less than my minimum base salary..
I was pressured very hard by the team lead recruiter after I indicated to my original recruiter that the salary was far too low. Bonuses, to me, are just that - a bonus. Companies offer bonuses in lieu of salaries because they can then opt not to pay them for a variety of reasons. Telling me that you've gotten your bonus the last four years doesn't reassure me that they'll happen next year. That, and bonuses don't pay the monthly bills!
The entire process left a bad taste in my mouth, and the lower-than-low offer at the very end was insulting. They also required W2 information going back TEN years, as well as SAT scores (!), and three references whom they send a ridiculously detailed letter to for your references to fill out. I assume the W2 information is used to pressure you into accepting their low-end offer, as well. If you only made $10/hour at your last job, you should be thrilled to make $11/hour at this job, no matter what your skills are or what qualifications you gained at your last position.
By the way, overtime is mandatory (but paid 1.5x if you're hourly). I was told a minimum of 42.5 hours of working time a week is required. I had no problem with that, as it would have been extra money for me (if I'd been given the rate I wanted), but be aware of the overtime requirement. There are no monthly parking permits left in their garage, so you can either park at a lot a mile away (for $80/$90 a month) and hoof it, or pay $13/day for parking on the rooftop of the lot attached to the building...or take public transit as the Greensboro station is connected to the building. The company offers a stipend of $120 a month to help, but it still totals out to a large sum of money for parking for those who have minimal disposable cash.
I emailed the potential boss - who affected to not know what had happened - because I wasn't sure if he was involved in the process as he'd been at a conference. He thanked me for my description of what happened, and promised to loop back with me to explain the rationale by HR/Finance. That was two weeks ago and I have heard nothing, despite a follow-up email by me a week ago. I hope that he is very busy, but I'm assuming I've been ghosted and will never have an explanation why the tables were turned and I received one single offer with no negotiation at the end. I spoke to the tag team of recruiters on Friday, who promised to follow up with me the following Monday. The job was listed that Saturday, and I had to chase down the recruiter with an email on Monday to get a reply Tuesday telling me that was the only offer I'd get.
I think their interview process is designed to take advantage of the sunk cost fallacy (you've put so much time and effort and emotion into it that you'll take whatever they offer) and also relies on students fresh out of college not understanding how compensation works to their detriment with regard to hourly rate versus overall compensation. Go in with your eyes open, and make it very very clear from the beginning that your lowest hourly rate (or salaried rate) is non-negotiable, and any bonuses or overtime will be on top of that. Make sure your recruiter understands that the round number you use (they kept using a yearly number to indicate hourly wages) is your absolute BASE wage and anything else on top of that is gravy.
Other than that, I'm extremely disappointed as everyone I met with was friendly and seemed to enjoy working there. I've no doubt it would have been a good job fit for me, even with the cons, but the utter bait-and-switch lowball offer at the end was just ridiculous.