The interviewer I met was rude, dismissive, and condescending from the start. His overall manner suggested a sense of superiority, which set a negative tone for the conversation.
The interview felt more like a brainstorming session than an actual interview. He asked how I would maintain a steady pipeline of Financial Advisors and what challenges exist in FA recruitment. When I redirected these questions back to him, his answers were basic and not unique, which made it clear he was looking for ideas rather than properly assessing my suitability.
I highlighted that one key challenge in FA recruitment is the lack of a basic salary compared to banker roles. He quickly rebutted this by saying bankers do not earn a basic salary unless they hit targets, which is factually incorrect. When asked how many FAs he had recruited, he said 5–6 over the year and framed this as being done “out of goodwill,” adding that my numbers would need to be higher since I would be paid.
When I asked whether the role would be onsite or hybrid, he responded condescendingly that it would be fully onsite. He explained that work-from-home options had previously been offered but the results were “not favourable.” This implied that new hires would bear the consequences of others’ past performance rather than being assessed individually.
Overall, the experience showed a clear misalignment in values and working style. Based on the interaction and existing reviews, I chose to withdraw from the process quickly. I am confident this was the right decision, as working with someone so arrogant and money-driven would be more difficult than the role itself.
