Had an interview with them
What was meant to be a casual chat about my experience and what the company was looking for ended up feeling like an ambush. The energy was negative from the start. I was constantly interrupted, and at points the interviewer clearly insinuated I was lying about my experience. Whenever I attempted to describe something from my work history, I was interrupted with a barrage of questions. "When did you do this?" "Who were your team members?" "What did each person contribute?" There was no structure to it; it felt like a cross-examination rather than a conversation. It got so bad that the second interviewer actually stepped in to defend me, confirming that what I was describing was legitimate and that they'd experienced something similar themselves.
The next week I received a call with vague feedback: theoretically my experience looked strong, but it didn't feel "practical" to them. I've been in interviews before where another candidate was chosen for having more relevant experience, and that's normal. But none of those interviews involved this level of hostility.
I have conducted and sat through many interviews over the years, and I have never experienced anything like this. It could be because I am a person of colour. It took me a while to recognise what had happened until I spoke to several people who helped me see that the way the interview was conducted was simply wrong. I looked the team up on LinkedIn. Diversity was nonexistent, and the only person of colour who had worked with the team had left within three months.
This review is for anyone, particularly people of colour, who may be interviewing or considering working for this company. You don't need to avoid the interview, but if you experience anything like what I've described, shut it down immediately. You are almost certainly not getting the job at that point, and there is no reason to endure the disrespect. My one regret is that I didn't do exactly that instead of doubting myself.
It is not you overthinking it. This is what systemic discrimination does. It makes you think you are the problem. It is not in your head.
I'm in a better place now. I'm glad things went the way they did, because I can only imagine the toll it would have taken on my mental health had I actually got the job. My partner encouraged me to leave this review in case it helps someone in the future.
Distasteful.