Genuinely the worst and least professional interview I’ve ever had.
I applied for a full-time Summer Camp Coordinator position and was contacted to schedule an interview for that role. At no point before or during scheduling was I told the position had already been filled.
When I arrived at the interview, I was informed that I was actually being considered for a Robotics Club Coach position. This was a very part-time role, offering two one-hour shifts per week, with a mandatory one-year contract and required on-call availability.
I was told that I would need to keep my schedule open for on-call events, and that attendance at these events was mandatory, even though no standby or retainer pay was offered.
The pay offered was $20 per hour, and parking costs $10 per day. This means my effective compensation would often be as low as $10 per hour, to supervise and teach up to 20 students in a robotics setting.
In addition to managing and teaching the group, I was told I would also be expected to create my own curriculum, plan lesson content, and handle equipment acquisition and preparation. All of this would be on my own time and without additional compensation.
During the interview, I was pressured three separate times to accept the job on the spot. When I responded that I’d like to discuss it with my fiancée, I was met with a sexist and unprofessional remark along the lines of, “So you’re the kind of man who lets your girlfriend decide things for you?”
I also mentioned I would be returning to school in September, a fact that was clearly listed on my resume, and the interviewer seemed visibly displeased. This further suggested that my resume had not been read beforehand.
When I asked basic and reasonable questions about the tools, software stack, robotics hardware, and expectations for the program, it became clear that no one present was qualified to answer them. It was obvious they were looking for someone to build and run the entire department from scratch, without support, guidance, or appropriate compensation.
To add to the disorganization, I had originally requested to reschedule my interview due to illness and received no response for over a week. When the interview was finally arranged, it was rescheduled three separate times last minute by them.
Overall, the process was disorganized, demeaning, and ultimately exploitative. The offer was insulting given the high level of responsibility and technical skill required, paired with unrealistic expectations and minimal compensation.
Avoid unless you’re comfortable being underpaid, pressured, and expected to run a program entirely on your own.
