I applied for what was presented as a design role and went through multiple rounds of interviews over several weeks. The process included an initial phone screening, followed by both in-person and video interviews with different team members, culminating in a final design presentation.
I approached the presentation seriously despite limited resources, including a vague client brief, no access to RH’s CAD library, and only screenshots of rendering perspectives that made scale and furniture placement difficult to interpret. I aligned my concept with RH’s aesthetic and was fully open to feedback. However, the critique I received felt more like a review of a final client presentation rather than an initial one. Most disappointing was that this feedback (which felt highly subjective) was used immediately, while I was still in the interview, to conclude I wasn’t “ready” for a design role. This was despite my extensive experience successfully designing, managing, and installing numerous interior projects, many recognized in notable design publications. These projects involved significantly greater complexity and scope than the position I was being evaluated for. I shared my portfolio of these projects with RH early in the process, which led to being invited to complete the design prompt.
However, the verbal offer presented to me was for a lower-paying retail position, which was entirely different from the designer role discussed. This felt like a bait and switch tactic - using the promise of a design role to attract skilled design professionals only to redirect them into retail roles at lower salaries. Additionally, one of the interviewers arrived 30 minutes late, contributing to an overall sense of disorganization and a lack of respect for candidate time.
Advice to RH: Be transparent about the roles you’re hiring for. If the position is retail-focused, communicate that clearly and early. When requesting design presentations, ensure candidates have the necessary tools, clear expectations, and constructive feedback. Avoid snap judgments during the interview, especially after candidates have invested significant time and effort. Finally, recognize that designers with CAD skills and relevant experience deserve compensation reflecting their expertise.
