I applied and was quickly contacted for a phone screening. However, the screening felt one-sided, with the recruiter dominating the conversation for most of the 30 minutes. I managed to interject in the final few minutes to ask some questions about the role. Contrary to my expectation of a brief general discussion, the recruiter asked me three behavioral questions.
I advanced to the next phase, an interview with the hiring manager, which proved to be uncomfortable. The manager began by intensely scrutinizing my work history, creating a tense atmosphere. Despite my qualifications, both in terms of education and experience, surpassing those of the hiring manager, the encounter felt more like an interrogation than an interview. Additionally many of the questions didn't really relate to the role.
Although the hiring manager seemed impressed with my responses, I was later informed by the recruiter that I would not be moving forward. Given the unsettling nature of the interview, I felt relieved, as the hiring manager's approach was a significant red flag for me.