The interview process differed from what I expected. In Poland, a common recruitment flow involves an initial recruiter screening covering standard HR and employment-related topics, followed by a manager interview if there is a match.
I understand processes vary between companies, and this itself was not my main concern. In this case, my first conversation was directly with a manager from the hiring team. During the interview, I experienced the atmosphere as unusually tense and lacking collaboration. The conversation began with a discussion of my understanding of the role, but no feedback or clarification was provided regarding whether my assumptions were aligned with the position before moving into a long sequence of competency-based questions. I was surprised that my initial explanation of the role expectations received neither confirmation nor correction, which made it difficult to understand whether my perception of the position aligned with reality throughout the interview. This was followed by standard questions related to my previous professional experience and theoretical knowledge, with approximately 50 minutes dedicated entirely to assessment.
The final 10 minutes were allocated for my questions. I asked about team structure, challenges of the role, and whether my initial understanding of the position aligned with the actual responsibilities. I also inquired about the absence of an HR screening step. The response I received felt dismissive and left me with the impression that questions regarding the recruitment process and expectations were not particularly welcomed.
I understand that interviews are designed to evaluate fit and that not every candidate will match a role. However, I believe candidates should experience a professional, respectful, and constructive environment throughout the process.
Unfortunately, I left the interview feeling discouraged rather than informed about the opportunity or company culture. Based on this experience, and being familiar with Amazon's Leadership Principles - including "Strive to be Earth's Best Employer: Leading with empathy and building a safe, productive environment" - I would encourage greater emphasis on empathy, transparency, and candidate communication during interviews.