I had a very positive experience throughout the initial stages of the interview process, and the recruiter and earlier interviewers were professional and engaging. However, my experience changed significantly during the third round with the hiring manager.
The hiring manager joined the interview and mentioned they had not yet reviewed my resume, which was surprising given the stage of the process and came across as condescending and not very respectful. Throughout the conversation, the tone felt dismissive and disengaged, and it did not feel like there was genuine interest in learning about my background or experience. The interaction came across as though a decision may have already been made prior to the interview.
I was very excited about the opportunity going into the next round, so this was disappointing. I understand that hiring decisions can be competitive, but I believe candidates at this stage of the process deserve a level of preparation and engagement that reflects the time and effort they’ve invested.