This company was extremely unprofessional. To begin with, no one from HR contacted me regarding the role I applied for; instead, a senior person reached out directly. This was the first red flag and suggested a potential waste of time. The interview lasted 45 minutes, in which mainly company’s internal problems were discussed. As soon as the conversation shifted in that direction, it became clear that I was there to provide free consulting and insights rather than to be properly evaluated as a candidate. It was also mentioned that previously this team had two people, both of whom were laid off. This further reinforced the impression that the interview was less about hiring and more about extracting unpaid strategic input. Overall, the company appears disorganised and lacks a professional hiring process. They should reconsider their approach to innovation and recruitment.