I recently interviewed for a position that I found to have two critical aspects not explicitly mentioned in the job description, which were only revealed to me upon receiving a rejection email:
Location Requirement: The job entails a hybrid work arrangement that necessitates visiting Elk Grove three times a week to work at the Capital One building. This location requirement caught me off guard, as it was not disclosed in the initial job posting. Had I been aware of this location expectation I would not have applied for the role, as I was primarily interested in positions within the downtown Chicago area.
API-First Experience: While the job description mentioned API-First experience as a "bonus point" skill, it became evident during the interview process that this was of utmost importance to the hiring team. Subsequently, the rejection email cited my lack of this specific knowledge as a primary reason for not moving forward. During the interview, I expressed my willingness to acquire this skill, even offering to invest in learning materials and knowledge at my own expense, as it was presented as a "bonus point" skill. However, it appears that this willingness did not align with the actual expectations of the role.
I want to emphasize that the interviewer was pleasant throughout the process, and it is reasonable to assume that she may not have been responsible for crafting the job posting. While I can't hold her accountable for these discrepancies, it does feel as though the interview experience was somewhat misleading. In hindsight, it seems like I invested 45 minutes in an interview for a position I might not have applied for had the location and skill requirements been accurately conveyed in the job description.