The experience was unfavorable due to misleading information regarding the role requirements. In multiple conversations with both the recruiter and the hiring manager, my background was reviewed in detail, and it was explicitly confirmed that specialized knowledge of Confluent products or data streaming was not a requirement for the role. However, the technical interview was conducted for one hour with questions primarily focused on cloud technologies and data management, with only two minutes of discussion on Kafka. Despite this, I was later informed that Confluent would not proceed because the company was seeking a candidate with data streaming experience. This inconsistency resulted in a significant waste of time for both myself and the organization. Such requirements should have been clarified at the outset — in fact, before outreach to candidates even begins — to avoid misalignment and ensure a fair, efficient process.