I applied to Phenom through their official website and was quickly scheduled for a brief introductory interview with a Talent Acquisition (TA) representative. The TA was absolutely amazing, incredibly warm, personable, and easy to talk to. It felt like a great start to the process and left me genuinely excited about the opportunity. Shortly after, I was invited to a second round interview with a Product Manager at Phenom. This conversation was equally positive and we had an engaging and thoughtful discussion, and it honestly felt more like chatting with a friend than a formal interview. At this point, I was feeling confident and aligned with both the team and the company’s mission. Unfortunately, the final round was where everything fell apart. I interviewed with the VP & GM of Product Operations, who was also the hiring manager for the role. From the start, he seemed rushed and disengaged. He ran through each interview question as if he was just checking boxes and didn’t seem interested in having a meaningful conversation. We had a 45-minute time slot, yet it felt like he wanted to get through it as quickly as possible. I did my best to respond clearly and professionally to every question, but there was no opportunity for real dialogue or connection. To make things more confusing, the final question he asked was SQL based and even though the job I applied for had no clear relevance to SQL skills. I wasn’t prepared for that kind of technical question, panicked, and only managed to answer part of it. Combined with the hiring manager’s disinterest from the start, it felt like the interview was set up for failure and not a fair representation of my abilities or potential. What’s most disappointing is that the earlier stages of the process were so positive and reflective of Phenom’s stated mission to “help a billion people find the right work.” But if a hiring manager in a key leadership role can’t even engage seriously with a candidate in the final round, it raises doubts about how much that mission is actually lived out. Lastly, following up post-interview has been extremely difficult. Phenom doesn’t provide any direct contact information or email for follow ups, making it nearly impossible to ask for feedback or clarify next steps. That lack of transparency and accessibility is frustrating, especially after investing significant time and effort in the process. Overall, this experience left me disappointed and disheartened. While some individuals at Phenom clearly care about candidate experience, the final decision maker didn’t, and unfortunately, that left a lasting negative impression.