The initial screening with the recruiter was professional and efficient. However, the 30-minute interview with the VP (who was also the hiring manager) was disappointing and felt disrespectful of my time.
Throughout the conversation, the VP appeared distracted. Midway through, he mentioned "some woman" kept calling him, then took her third call while I was in the middle of answering one of his questions. He asked me to hold, leaving me on hold for about 5 minutes. When he returned, with roughly 8 minutes left in the scheduled time, he abruptly ended the interview, saying he had to go. He suggested I email any follow-up questions, which I did promptly—but received no response.
A few days later, the recruiter informed me I wasn't the "perfect candidate."
While rejection is part of the process and completely understandable if it's not a mutual fit, the experience felt uneven. Candidates deserve a consistent, respectful interview—especially at the VP level—regardless of how strong a match they ultimately are. Equal time and attention for all finalists would go a long way.