Disappointing and Discriminatory Interview Experience
I had an incredibly disappointing experience during my interview process. After mentioning in the first interview that the remote nature of the role was appealing as I have a child, the entire focus shifted from my skills and qualifications to my personal situation.
The HR manager asked if I wouldn't prefer working part-time and how many hours I wanted to work, despite my clear statement that I had applied for a full-time position and was fully prepared for it. Even though I admitted that I would prefer part-time, I clarified that full-time was not a problem for me. Nevertheless, she continually circled back to the fact that I have a child, implying indirectly that working full-time might not be feasible for me. At one point, she even questioned my preferred starting date, assuming it was related to a daycare (Kita) induction. While I understand the importance of logistical details, this line of questioning felt misplaced and unrelated to my qualifications for the role. An HR manager should focus on professional questions rather than personal circumstances.
Furthermore, the HR manager emphasized that she was looking for someone with strong recruitment experience because she valued providing a good candidate experience. Ironically, her own actions contradicted this claim. She assured me I would hear back from her within a few days regarding the hours, yet I never heard from her directly again. Instead, after almost two weeks, I received a generic rejection email from another colleague. The email inaccurately referenced a meeting with someone I never spoke to, further highlighting the lack of professionalism and personalization.
While I’m sure the HR manager didn't have bad intentions, the overall experience felt discriminatory and dismissive. In times where diversity and inclusion are celebrated as core values, I expected more from the process. Candidates should be evaluated based on their qualifications and potential, not assumptions about their personal circumstances.
