Just went through one of the most disrespectful hiring processes I’ve experienced as a product designer. Company is Kixie (sales tech, SMB).

Here’s what they put me through:

• Phone screen with TPM — who was promoted mid-process. Realized too late the role had quietly shifted to a founding designer situation(they laid off junior designer): build from scratch, own strategy alone.
• Design challenge based on what looked like actual internal company problems. Free consulting, basically.
• Onsite: 5 back-to-back 45-min panels + 90-min CEO interview. No breaks. No lunch. Ran straight through midday. ~5 hours total.
• Engineering wanted to move forward. Sales and Marketing didn’t align. Their solution? Another final round until Sales Approve you— instead of making a decision.
• That invite was sent same morning, less than 8 hours before the session.
• Final round: app critique. Also last minute free consulting of their current product revamp.

Total unpaid design work across multiple rounds. Zero consideration for candidate time or energy.

The kicker — feedback was that Sales and Marketing didn’t like my approach. I’m a product designer, not a marketer. If your internal teams can’t agree on what you’re hiring for, don’t waste candidates’ time.

Stop taking advantage of creatives’ sweat.