I have been through many interview processes over the past 20 years, but unfortunately my experience with the HR team at this company was one of the least professional.
Instead of exploring my strengths, motivation, or cultural fit, the discussion was strongly centered around what I don’t know. If a candidate does not match 100% of the job description, the attitude seems to shift quickly toward being dismissive rather than curious or open-minded.
The HR representative also chose to lecture me on DevOps – an area clearly outside their expertise – instead of focusing on HR-related topics or facilitating a constructive conversation. In addition, they expressed disappointment that I hadn’t prepared a “5 strengths and 5 weaknesses” list. This type of old-fashioned interview exercise has largely disappeared from modern recruitment practices, so the expectation felt outdated and out of sync with current industry standards.
I was further pressed to “prove” my long-term commitment, despite my CV clearly showing that I have never stayed less than 5 years with any previous employer. The tone of the conversation came across as condescending, which left me feeling undervalued as a professional. Ironically, while emphasizing the importance of employee loyalty, the interaction itself did not reflect the level of respect or professionalism that would inspire long-term engagement.
Shortly after this experience, I received an offer from another company with a more respectful recruitment process and a better compensation package. Based on this interview, I do not intend to engage with this organization again.