A few days after my online application, the CTO sends me a take-home exercise. He writes, “we'd need to see relevant sample code from you personally”. He unnecessarily clarifies that it is a Software Engineer role, attaching a link to a Quora answer of what Software Engineering is. Finally, he gives me a one-week deadline that seems more like an ultimatum (“any later, and we can't review – no extensions, sorry – please don't ask”). (Big) Red flag #1. Although I had other interviews already scheduled, I manage to carve out a couple of hours just on deadline day. I create a simple ROS package and send it to the email address the CTO gave me. The email does not exist, and the message is returned, hence I forward it to the CTO. Red flag #2. After submitting my solution, I read their entire website carefully, spotting the following: 1. We've built the world's most perfect robotic harvester […] 2. Work hard, act with urgency and deliver when promised 3. We never say tasks are “too small, it’s too easy” (we just do them) or “too large, that's insane!” (we find a way!) Most perfect. Urgency. Deliver when promised. Just do. Find a way. Red flag #3. Ten days after, I receive a meeting request from the TPM. I select a date in the following week on his calendar. It is a 30-minute behavioral call, in which he also asks me how I would improve my solution to the take-home exercise. I propose two improvements, which he confirms are also the only possible ones. I explain that I have been very busy with other interviews, and that I could have implemented at least one if I had a little more time. Also, I mention that the CTO's email seemed rather rude to me. He apologizes, then pays me many compliments. Clearly, he is very impressed. The day after, a Team Leader invites me to a 1-hour technical interview. I choose to do it 2 weeks later, given my other commitments. The interview is in two parts: one with him, the other with a Software Engineer. I do both well, the Team Leader likes me and tells me that I would be a good fit. He also puts me in contact with the Research Leader, as he thinks we would get along nicely. The Research Leader accepts my connection request on LinkedIn and invites me to a call. On the same day, the CEO writes me that they modified the job description, and asks me if I would be still happy to proceed (“or indeed if not”). Red flag #4. I point out to him that the role is now even more compatible with my background, and tell him that I am still interested. Two days later, he writes me that I have not been selected, motivating that they are looking for “a closer demonstrated experience fit” in the role, their technology and commercial environment, and operational requirements. I laugh. He must have finally read my CV and decided that he does not like me, regardless of the glaring evidence of my interview process. I reply wishing him the best and suggesting that he carefully read the CVs of all the candidates, to make sure he only evaluates the ones that really interest him.