The recruiter screen was extensive and fairly technical, which is reasonable for a security role and gave the impression that GitLab wants to filter for strong candidates early. Unfortunately, the interview with the hiring manager was a let-down. There was a noticeable lack of clarity around the team’s remit, priorities, and even the direction of the PSIRT function. The contrast between the rigor of the screening stage and the ambiguity at the manager stage was surprising. It felt like a missed opportunity and an inefficient use of experienced candidates’ time.