I was recently interviewed for a role where the hiring manager led the conversation. Honestly, the interview felt more like a checklist exercise than a true dialogue. It seemed she had a bank of preset questions she needed to get through, many of which were repetitive, even after I had already provided answers. Personally, I value interviews that feel like meaningful conversations about past experiences, where the employer is genuinely assessing fit — and equally, where the candidate has the chance to evaluate the company and its culture. I wasn’t moved forward to the next round, but I’m not concerned, as the experience reinforced what I look for in an employer.

I was selected by a recruiter to apply for this position, which she insisted I interview for even though I didn't meet the base qualifications. The interviewer looked down and picked at his nails through the entire interview, clearly having zero inspiration for working there nor much interest in me.