I previously interviewed for a school counselor position, and the interview went exceptionally well. At the time, I did not have direct experience in the specific college and career counseling role they were hiring for. However, following the interview, the Director of School Counseling reached out and expressed that both he and the interview panel were impressed with me. He mentioned that if another position became available and I was still interested and available, they would like for me to apply. His message left me with the impression that I would be strongly considered for a future opportunity.
To my surprise, another position did open later that same year. I applied and was genuinely excited about the potential opportunity to join the school. I followed up with the Director of School Counseling, who responded by saying they were preparing for spring break and that he would be in touch upon their return. This raised a red flag for me, as I was aware that spring break was not scheduled for that particular week, which made me question the transparency of the communication.
Following their actual spring break, the director did reach out and scheduled a virtual interview. From the beginning, the tone of this second interview felt noticeably different. There was a distinct lack of engagement and interest, which was perplexing given the enthusiasm expressed during my initial interview. Unfortunately, this experience left me feeling dismissed, and the interaction—particularly with the Director of Counseling—conveyed undertones that felt biased and racially insensitive.