My experience with Adyen was one of the most disappointing interview processes I’ve gone through. I’m a designer from India with strong work and a well-prepared portfolio. I spent an entire week preparing for their process, studying their brand, culture, and interview style. During the screening call, I was asked standard questions, including my willingness to relocate to Amsterdam. I said yes, I was ready and committed. However, shortly after, I was abruptly rejected. Not because of my skills or cultural fit, but simply because I am Indian. I wasn’t already based in Europe. The recruiter even admitted this in feedback, saying they “prefer to focus on candidates who do not need to relocate or are already in Europe.” What made this more frustrating is that their job description never once mentioned this limitation. On the contrary, it highlighted Adyen’s commitment to diversity, proudly stating that their team represents over 100 nationalities. I wasn’t rejected for my ability, creativity, or potential contribution. I was rejected for my location and nationality. To me, that felt dishonest. If relocation was truly a dealbreaker, it should have been mentioned upfront in the job description. Instead, I was led to invest my time, energy, and excitement into a process that wasn’t even open to me from the start. For a company that emphasizes fairness, ambition, and diversity, this was the exact opposite. My takeaway is simple: candidates deserve honesty and clarity before committing their time.