I had a very different experience with the recruiter versus the hiring manager. The recruiter presented the role in a way that felt aligned with my background and experience, and I was encouraged to move forward based on that conversation. However, the interview with the hiring manager was quite different. The tone felt judgmental at times, and several questions went beyond my professional experience into personal life plans that did not feel relevant to the role. I left the conversation feeling as though the expectations and interview style had not been clearly aligned with what was initially described. Overall, the mismatch between the recruiter’s framing and the hiring manager’s approach made the process feel inconsistent. I think clearer communication about the role, expectations, and interview style would improve the candidate experience.