Terrible.The interview experience was deeply disappointing and very disrespectful. Although the initial contact seemed positive, Dr. Feng—the main interviewer—opened by immediately dismissing my candidacy, stating that I was “just an intern” and “not qualified” for the role. This was despite the fact that I was currently assisting at a professional organization and have previously held positions of even higher responsibility than the one I applied for.
He repeatedly downplayed my background—selectively referencing parts of my CV while ignoring others—and claimed I had “just over a year” of experience, which was inaccurate. When I pointed out that many of the specific experience requirements (like event management and industry knowledge) were not mentioned in the job description, he attempted to pull up the JD to prove me wrong—but it only confirmed my point. The description was vague and generalized, with no mention of the specific expectations they suddenly required. One of the managers later privately admitted that the company struggles to find Chinese-speaking candidates with niche local industry experience, but they still expect people to “hit the ground running,” which felt like a contradiction.
This same person—introduced to me during the interview as part of the marketing team—later turned out (through my own research) to be the company’s Managing Director. It was clearly a made-up title meant to soften the tone of the conversation. Ironically, they were the one who made several inappropriate and unnecessary comments about my age, the way I walked, my facial expressions, and even how quickly I filled in my salary expectations. These comments were not only unprofessional but also reinforced the judgmental and patronizing tone of the interview.
Eventually, I was offered a completely different position in another business unit, with a salary of only 50K—significantly below market rate and with KPIs attached. The original role, which was initially posted on SEEK with a 70K–80K range, was magically downgraded—almost like a sleight of hand—into a lower-paying job with heavier demands. I’ve interviewed for roles with the same or even higher salaries before, but this was the first time I felt so profoundly disrespected during the process.
I am a young, well-presented Asian woman—and in everyday life, people often see me as warm, personable, and easy to get along with. Ironically, these very traits seemed to be interpreted by them as indicators that I was exploitable or would quietly accept being undervalued.
Toxic setups like this—where companies disguise lowball offers behind vague job ads, condescending interviews, and exploitative expectations—should not be normalized. Companies that rely on undercutting talent and eroding professional dignity have no place in today’s job market.
