I applied online directly and was invited to a telephone interview a few days later. This was a straightforward 30-minute call with one of the value stream owners to discuss my CV and background. Following this I was invited to a more formal interview which was structured into three sections: - Role-play exercise (30 minutes) - Presentation (15 minutes to present, followed by 15 minutes of discussion) - Interview (45 minutes of Q&A) The role-play exercise was introduced at the very start of the interview. I was given a couple of minutes to read a scenario and then had to engage in a discussion with someone playing the role of a difficult stakeholder. This felt unrealistic, as in a real world situation you would never enter such a conversation without sufficient context to help navigate the issue. The lack of background made it difficult to demonstrate problem-solving and negotiation skills effectively, neither did it give me any opportunity to demonstrate my empathy and ability to tailor my communication to different styles, and overall, the exercise felt quite disconnected from real-life situations. Additionally, this style of interview didn’t make the company feel particularly accessible. Personally, I struggle with anxiety, and this approach was a significant trigger both before and during the interview, leaving me feeling quite unwell. The rest of the interview followed a standard Q&A format and went smoothly. Unfortunately, the end of the process was disappointing. I received a rejection via email from the hiring manager which included very positive feedback about my skills and experience, only to conclude with a generic "however, on this occasion, you have not been selected," with no specific areas for improvement. They mentioned that they saw me as a strong fit and would reach out about future opportunities. I followed up to request further feedback and express interest in future roles but I never received a response. Overall, while parts of the process were well-structured, the role-play exercise felt impractical and the lack of meaningful closure left a poor impression.