Had what was framed as an introductory meeting with HR, but it quickly became clear it wasn’t really about understanding my professional background or potential fit. Despite being a current MSc student with nearly two years of real-world experience in software development — across different roles and environments — there was little to no interest in what I’ve actually done. My CV wasn’t requested, my skills weren’t explored, and there were no questions about the kind of projects I’ve worked on or the tools and technologies I’m proficient in. Instead, the conversation focused almost entirely on where I grew up, my high school grades, and why I made certain academic choices years ago. It felt like I was being profiled more as a personality type than as a professional. The only time the topic shifted to future goals, the discussion was so abstract and disconnected from my actual experience that it barely scratched the surface. Then came the follow-up: I was told I “don’t know what I want to do.” That conclusion felt completely unearned, especially given how little of the conversation had anything to do with my current skill set, interests, or recent work. The whole experience gave off the impression that they were more focused on checking culture boxes or curating a certain narrative than actually assessing whether someone is capable and motivated. If you're hoping to be taken seriously for your experience and direction — especially in tech — this kind of process might just leave you wondering why you bothered.