Although the initial HR contact was cordial, the process proved to be a waste of time and resources for anyone seeking a serious professional opportunity. The final feedback I received was that the company preferred a male profile due to the 'need for physical strength' for the project. It is deeply disappointing to see a company that boasts about its Health & Safety awards using gender and physical assumptions as a justification in 2026, completely ignoring the technical expertise and prior experience I had already demonstrated. Criteria based on 'strength'—rather than demonstrated skill or the use of mechanical safety aids—are a massive step backward. A warning to qualified female candidates: merit and experience seem to be secondary to traditional and biased views on who should hold industrial maintenance roles.