The first interview went very well. The two managers conducting the interview were professional, engaging, and made the conversation feel collaborative. However, during the second interview with the CEO, I was asked how I planned to balance working at the company while being a mother. I found this question surprising and concerning, as it raises potential HR and legal red flags. It’s difficult to imagine this being asked of a male candidate in the same context. Additionally, after already providing three professional references, I was asked to submit three more, each of whom had to complete a 15-minute phone screening. This process felt excessive and raised some concerns about the company’s internal practices and respect for candidates’ time, as well as that of my references. Ultimately, I left the experience with concerns about possible discrimination based on age and parental status, which felt particularly disappointing given the company’s focus on children and media. I would encourage prospective candidates to read the existing reviews on Glassdoor carefully, doing so in hindsight helped me better understand my own experience. Despite my references generously offering their time and insights, I was not offered the position.