After applying I had a first interview - a "get-to-know-you" session with someone who would have been my peer, and the HR representative. The first discussion went very well and I was invited to a 2nd meeting. The 2nd meeting was with the peer alone, and it was like I was speaking with a completely different person. Right from the jump, the interview was strangely contentious. She started by telling me her day wasn't going very well, then immediately asked me to describe Akido Labs. I went into detail about everything I'd been able to find - history, product, growth trajectory, funding, etc. After finishing there was a pause, and she asked, "Uhhh, ok..... let me reframe this. How would you describe the company to a friend?" I did my best to reframe and recount all of the information I had just given her, but what exactly are you looking for here? If this is a test on if I'd done my homework on the company, I clearly had.
From there, it got no better. This was the furthest interview from "conversational" that 'd ever had. It was like she thought she knew me, I had wronged her somehow, and she was there to put me in my place. 15 minutes into the interview I very nearly ended the call because of how unprofessional she was acting.
I've conducted literally thousands of interviews. I get it - sometimes someone just isn't a fit for a reason that I don't need to understand. With that said, I've NEVER treated anyone with contempt or disrespect, and never would.
I sincerely hope that I was the anomaly, that I'd just caught this interviewer on a bad day.
