I went through a multi-step interview process for a manager-level role, including 5+ interviews with the recruiter, hiring manager, team manager, and potential colleagues. Most of the interviewers were friendly on the surface, but the team manager interview felt a bit off — the discussion was unfocused (at one point, she asked me to pause briefly while responding to Slack messages) and overly casual at times. The role and company goals were described as growth-oriented, but there wasn’t much clarity around longer-term strategy or exactly what the role would involve. After all the interviews, I was asked to complete a really detailed questionnaire that repeated topics we had already covered and even asked for information about my current employer that felt proprietary. I was honestly a little surprised by how much they were asking for at this stage. Between the drawn-out process, the unusual requests, and the inconsistent interview experiences, I decided it made more sense to withdraw and focus on other opportunities.