I had the opportunity to interview with the CEO, and while the conversation about the team and company culture was insightful, I was surprised and disappointed by the offer. During the interview, I shared my expected salary and was told it was reasonable, so I expected an offer in that range. Instead, the offer came in significantly lower, and clearer communication about budget constraints from the start would have prevented this disappointment. During the final offer meeting, discussions about benefits, health insurance, and holidays felt unprepared. Despite the CEO’s years of experience, they seemed unsure about basic details, which felt unprofessional. I requested the employee handbook to review benefits and later followed up by email asking about insurance coverage. The response was that the information wasn’t available and that I should consult the agent, which felt like being passed off. Finally, I asked about a flexible schedule to accommodate daycare pickup for my child. The CEO rejected the request and ended the conversation abruptly with “I wish you the best of luck,” which felt dismissive and left a very negative impression. Overall, more preparation, transparency, and professional communication would have greatly improved the candidate experience.