The HR interview was unusually long and exhausting, stretching to almost an hour of relentless questioning about cultural fit, past experiences, and mandatory office days.
After reflecting on my interview, I'm confident I communicated effectively and professionally. Despite this, I was rejected before even getting the chance to take the technical assessment, which should be the true measure of a candidate's potential contribution. The stated reason was that they chose someone who could start sooner, but with multiple positions open, this explanation didn't seem genuine. It felt like the HR representative was acting as a gatekeeper, making decisions based on personal impression rather than objective qualifications.