Interviewed for an Audit Intern position a couple years ago. One interviewer spent time questioning my previous work as an eyelash technician at a beauty salon, which I had done while studying at university to pay my tuition fees and support myself financially. When I explained this, he told me that in India students do not work because their parents pay for their education, allowing them to focus on studying. I found the comment dismissive and out of touch with the reality many students face. I wasn't working because it was a hobby or a career plan at the time—I was working because I needed to fund my education. What surprised me was that the discussion seemed to focus more on judging my previous employment than understanding the circumstances behind it or recognising the work ethic required to balance university and a client-facing job. I did not have any relevant accounting experience at the time as I was still studying for my degree, and this is the reason I was applying for an INTERN position which usually does not require previous experience Another interviewer strongly disagreed with his view and defended the value of that experience, which led to an awkward discussion between the interviewers during the interview itself. I remain grateful to her for speaking up. At the time, I felt unable to defend myself as effectively as she did, and her intervention made a difficult situation feel less isolating. I left feeling that I was being looked down on because of my background and the jobs I had worked to support myself through university. The experience affected me far more than it should have. For years afterwards, it knocked my confidence and made me question whether I belonged in the accounting profession at all. Looking back now, after building a career in accounting and financial services, I know that supporting yourself through university while gaining practical work experience is something to be proud of, not something to be judged for. However, it remains one of the most uncomfortable and discouraging interview experiences I have had.