The conversation with the recruiting team started off friendly, but shifted when I asked if the role had opened up following the recent hire of a team lead. Instead of a positive response like, “Yes, we’re excited about her joining, and this role was created to support her vision and leadership,” the response I got instead was that the company has always been in “growth mode” and that the hire wasn’t tied to any new initiatives. They repeated my name several times during their explanation in a way that came across as patronizing. Afterward, I looked up reviews of the company and saw repeated mentions of a micromanaging and toxic culture, which aligned with how the exchange felt. My takeaway wasn’t that the company is focused on growth, but rather that it’s stuck in a cycle of attrition—something I hadn’t expected to uncover from what seemed like a straightforward question.

Normal process with lovely people (recruiter screen and then a series of interviews) until I got to the CEO. I wish I had read the glassdoor reviews before applying, I got terrible vibes from him. I was very happy not to continue in the process after that.