I interviewed for the position of "senior software engineer" AT MICROSOFT ROMANIA for 3 months from July to October 2024, during which I was evaluated 5 times based on technical skills and received positive feedback from the developers via the recruiter regarding my outstanding technical expertise. In October 2024, I interviewed with the manager of the newly formed cloud team to whom I explained my desire to participate in the company's progress, and my dreams of becoming a technical leader. He didn't give a damn about my technical expertise even though Microsoft prides itself on promoting values ​​and leaders and gender balance in the company. The reason was a conflict of interest with my company, although I explained in the interview that I would dedicate myself to Microsoft and radiate the company. End of Oct. 2024, the recruiter found another -female this time- manager who didn't even want to talk to me. Conclusions: my technical expertise didn't matter at all and when I asked the reason for the rejection, I didn't get an answer. I can only assume that the reasons were to not compete with their “political protégés”, also probably because I was american and seasoned female and among other languages, i also speak Japanese. So the technical feedback given by 5 experienced developers didn't matter at all. In USA, managers are very humble because in a true democracy, the team decision matters more than their decision. In romania is viceversa: the “people manager’s” animalistic instincts would have to “like” the candidate - as if this wouldn’t be a brainy job! - and the candidate’s technical experience and prowess absolutely doesn’t matter. Thus people are setup for the well-known “kiss-up-kick-down” mentality, not for the meritocracy. Old communist habits die hard in romania.