I applied directly through the company’s careers portal and was contacted about 10 days later by a recruiter to schedule an initial screening call. The invite was via Microsoft Teams, and while I expected a video conversation, it ended up being an audio-only call that lasted approximately 45 minutes. This detail was never specified and already caused confusion. The recruiter was based in another Southeast Asian country, and communication during the call was at times difficult due to language clarity. For a first-round screening, I had hoped for a more engaging conversation about the role and my fit. Instead, the entire call was structured around a checklist of over 50+ binary and numerical questions, for example” “Have you used X software? Yes/No,” or “How many years of experience do you have with Y?” Even questions where the answers were clearly visible on my resume (e.g., total years of experience) were asked again and again as part of the script. The process felt more like filling out a verbal form than having a proper interview. There was no opportunity to ask questions, discuss the team, or gain insights into the role. It was a one-sided interaction that lacked the human element I would expect from a company of this scale. 🚩 Unfortunately, I never heard back after the call, not even a courtesy follow-up. While I understand not every candidate advances, some closure would have been appreciated. Overall, the process came across as impersonal, rigid, and disconnected from what candidates typically value in early-stage interviews.