Brookdale Senior Living Interview Questions
& Process

It was an abysmal experience. I had an initial interview with the recruiter, and we had a good talk about the role. When salary came up, I said I'd need the top of the posted range, which was still below market median and a big cut from my last job. I have 15 years of experience and this was for a Specialist role. They moved me forward to two on-site interviews, so four interviews total. The team was great, their dynamics were good, and I felt I was a good fit for the job. Then the recruiter called me and offered me the position, but it was 13% less than we discussed. I politely asked if it was negotiable, considering my experience and our previous chat. They called back and said the offer would stand as is. To top it off, they said I wouldn't get a bonus, even though it was in the job description! The recruiter explained the 'bonus' just meant eligibility for an annual raise. I pointed out those are different things, and she said she'd check. I told her I was still interested, but the offer was very low, and I'd be happy to talk to the team more. Then I got a standard rejection email saying I was no longer being considered. Basically, they low-balled me and advertised bonus pay falsely. I'm still in disbelief. A sad waste of time.

So the interview had three parts. First, a quick chat with HR about my background and what I expect salary-wise. Then, a technical chat with a senior BA, we talked about data tools, some business situations, and how I solve problems. The last part was a panel with the manager and a product lead, where I had to do a case study presentation and then we chatted about managing projects, talking to people, and analytical skills. The whole thing was pretty straightforward and they kept me in the loop.

I applied online and after a few days, HR called me for an interview. The following week, I had two more interviews back-to-back, so things were moving fast initially. I felt good about the role after the second interview, but the third one was with someone who seemed uninterested and busy, mainly complaining about how many interviews they had to conduct. This person was a substitute for the main manager and was unclear about their return, which made me feel uneasy about the management situation. Despite this, I inquired about the next steps and was informed it would be with the CEO. After a couple of weeks with no update (I was ghosted!), I eventually got a generic rejection email. This happened even though I had already spoken with HR and had the recruiter's direct email. I was ghosted after three interviews and received an impersonal rejection, which left a negative impression of the company and their candidate treatment. It might be best to avoid them, especially if you're a writer. The interviewer mentioned that the CEO is strict about remote work and they might not continue remote work on Fridays as they were doing at the time of my interview.

First, I had a phone call with the recruiter, then a Zoom interview with an HR Business Partner. After that, I went into the office for an interview with the Director. Then, I had another Zoom call with the existing HR Generalist team. The next step, which was supposed to be the last, was another Zoom with the HR Business Partners I would have been supporting. Everyone I met was great to talk to, and communication was excellent at the beginning. The whole process, from applying to finishing the interviews I attended, took only a week. I was told I'd hear back the same day to schedule the final interview. Unfortunately, all that good communication stopped, and I was ghosted for nearly two weeks, even after I contacted both the recruiter and the director. I noticed the job posting was gone from their careers page, and my application status changed from 'interviewing' back to 'in review.' I reached out again and finally got a response saying they had filled the position. Even now, my application status still shows as 'in review' instead of 'not selected.'