The Dedham Group interview questions

My interview experience with The Dedham Group left much to be desired, particularly in how they handle their candidates. The process began with an initial call with a recruiter, followed by three consecutive interviews. The first two interviews followed a standard format of behavioral questions and consulting market sizing exercises. However, the third interview, which was with a partner, deviated from the formula, making it a refreshing conversation compared to the earlier rounds. Before the final interview, I was tasked with a one-week take-home assignment involving Excel and PowerPoint. I put a significant amount of effort into this, hoping to make a strong impression. Unfortunately, after completing the entire process, including the final interview, I was left waiting for nearly two months to hear back. Despite almost weekly check-ins with the recruiter, I eventually received an automated rejection email. Given the level of commitment I had shown, I found this impersonal response highly disappointing. When I expressed my concerns to the recruiter, I was informed that they had over 100 applicants and that personally rejecting each candidate would be too time-consuming. While I understand the volume of applicants can be overwhelming, more transparency and communication throughout the process would have been appreciated. Overall, I felt misled into believing I was progressing far into the process when, in reality, I was no closer than a first-round candidate. I would recommend that The Dedham Group reevaluate how they manage candidate expectations and consider a more respectful approach to communication, particularly with those who reach the final stages of the interview process.