I recently went through the interview process at Rivel, and unfortunately, the experience was quite disappointing. Over the course of a few months, I had 3-4 lengthy and detailed interviews. Each interview was involved and required a significant amount of preparation. Additionally, I was asked to prepare and present an extensive project, which I invested a lot of time and effort into.
After all this, I was turned down for reasons that felt not reflective of my performance. The feedback afterwards mentioned that my presentation wasn't very in-depth, among other criticisms that did not sit well with me and didn't seem true nor honest. I believe that one of the team members felt threatened by my capabilities and didn't want me on the team, fearing that I might outshine them and potentially take over their role in the future.
Moreover, the overall demeanor of the individuals I interviewed with was off-putting. They came across as arrogant and not particularly pleasant, which made the process even more frustrating. It felt like I dodged a bullet, but the entire experience was not enjoyable.
What irks me the most is that I felt used, having done a quite extensive project for them for free, only to be dismissed with what felt like hollow reasons. The entire process has left a bitter taste, and I would advise potential candidates to be wary of the demands placed on them and to carefully consider whether the investment of time and effort will be truly valued and appreciated.
