I recently interviewed with Spring Footwear for an Amazon Marketplace Manager position. Prior to the interview, I browsed Glassdoor to read others' experiences, and I'll admit—I was a bit apprehensive. Some reviews had painted a rather intimidating picture of the interview process. I'm confident in my skills and expertise, especially when it comes to e-commerce and Amazon, but the interview experience took an unexpected turn. Rather than the standard discussion about my qualifications, I found myself fielding questions that seemed to revolve around the company’s internal issues. It felt as though I was being asked to solve their problems on the spot, which left me questioning the intention behind the interview. Was I being interviewed, or was I providing free consulting? At one point, the interviewer said, “I make more money on my website, why would I need Amazon to sell?” This was a bit shocking, considering I had applied for a position specifically for Amazon Marketplace. It seemed ironic, if not counterproductive, to question the value of Amazon when hiring for a role focused on that very platform. I didn’t know whether to laugh or politely excuse myself. If they’re not clear on why they need Amazon, why even create this position? To add to the confusion, I was also asked about my experience in other areas of marketing. It felt like they wanted me to juggle responsibilities on both Amazon and their website—a red flag for anyone seeking a clearly defined role. I got the impression they were searching for a jack-of-all-trades rather than someone specifically dedicated to Amazon strategy, which is what I had applied for. While I wouldn’t say I felt attacked, I did feel the need to constantly push back to clarify my role and expectations. It became clear that this was not an environment where I’d feel comfortable or valued. I don’t think I want to spend my time justifying my position or explaining the obvious need for Amazon in a company’s growth strategy. They did offer me a follow-up opportunity to visit the office, but I’ve decided not to return. This experience has shown me that alignment between the role and the company’s understanding of it is crucial, and that’s clearly missing here.