In 2020, I had one of the most unpleasant interview experiences of my life. The recruitment team visited our campus to fill an internship position, and their conduct was shockingly unprofessional. Throughout the day-long process, starting from 8 AM and lasting until 10:30 PM, the staff's unnecessary rudeness and insults toward the applicants and our university left a lasting negative impression. Despite enduring a grueling interview lasting for hours, I made it to the final round along with two other candidates. The duration of the interview was excessively long, making us wonder why such a prolonged assessment was necessary. By the end of the day, the remaining applicants, including myself, went home disheartened and dispirited, especially considering that this was our first exposure to the professional interview process as early professionals. What struck me even more was the disrespectful behavior exhibited by the interviewers. They not only insulted the applicants but also demeaned our university, which was completely uncalled for. The entire experience left us questioning the integrity of the hiring process and the professionalism of the organization. To add to our disappointment, our campus ambassadors, who usually facilitate positive interactions between students and recruiting companies, made a principled decision. They refused to invite this company back the following year, honoring their commitment to us, the students, in light of the horrible behavior we had witnessed. In the end, this experience served as a stark reminder of the importance of respectful and fair treatment in the hiring process. No applicant, especially those new to the professional world, should have to endure such unprofessional conduct during an interview.
