I recently interviewed for a staff-level role in the Total Rewards department via Teams. While I initially felt the conversation was going well—aside from some minor internet issues—the direction of the interview quickly shifted in a way that felt misaligned with the role. Despite the position requiring only three years of experience, I was asked a series of highly specific HR legal questions. As someone in compensation, my day-to-day work is heavily data-driven. Deep legal expertise—such as FLSA classifications, protected classes, and exemption criteria—is typically the domain of HR Business Partners or legal professionals. I’m neither SHRM-certified nor a lawyer, and that’s clearly reflected on my résumé. If the interviewer was seeking that level of legal knowledge, it should have been evident I wasn’t the right fit before the interview even began. This wasn’t my first time interviewing for this role, and in the past, the questions were more behavioral and focused on my background. This time, however, the tone felt unnecessarily harsh and misaligned with the expectations for a staff-level position. The interviewer also asked if I had considered pursuing the Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation. I explained that while I’ve thought about it, the cost—ranging from $10,000 to $15,000—is prohibitive unless sponsored by an employer. I also noted that many respected professionals in the field, including my current manager, don’t view the certification as essential for success in compensation. The interviewer disagreed, but it’s worth noting that CCP is typically more relevant for senior or lead roles, not entry-level positions. Despite all of that, the most unprofessional aspect of the interview was the repeated yawning—at least 8 to 10 times during a 30-minute conversation at 11:30 a.m. It wasn’t subtle, and it wasn’t occasional. It was distracting, disrespectful, and frankly, dismissive. When I received the rejection email the next day, I wasn’t disappointed—I was relieved. I regret spending my time speaking with someone who clearly hadn’t reviewed my background thoroughly and who demonstrated a lack of professionalism throughout the interview.

A phone interview, virtual interview and an in person interview. Company is going through a merger. This job will require alot of building from the ground up. The director is very nice.