Applied online and received an HR screening invite about a week later. The HR representative was friendly, professional, and enjoyable to speak with. During the call, I was told the hiring process was nearing its end and that the team was moving quickly through the remaining candidates. I was asked whether I could meet with the hiring manager that same day, and since I was available, I agreed.
Unfortunately, the interview itself left a negative impression. The interview started late, and shortly after joining, an urgent matter came up and I was asked to wait while it was handled. I completely understand that emergencies happen, but the rest of the conversation felt rushed and difficult to engage in.
Throughout the interview, there were several moments where attention seemed divided between the conversation and other matters. Although an apology was given, it made the discussion feel less focused than I would expect during an interview. This was especially surprising given that I had been told there was strong interest in meeting with me on short notice.
I also tried to ask questions throughout the conversation to learn more about the role and team. However, I was told that the priority was to learn more about me and make the best use of the remaining time. Wanting to respect that, I kept my answers concise and saved my questions for later, but the interview ended shortly afterward.
For me, interviews should be a two-way conversation where both the candidate and the company have the opportunity to learn about each other. While I understand that unexpected situations can occur, the overall experience felt less professional and less engaging than I had hoped. As a result, I left with a negative impression of the interview process and would not recommend it based on my experience.