The recruiter I spoke with in the first round was a genuine highlight of this experience. She was warm, clearly knowledgeable about the role and the company, and asked thoughtful questions that made it feel like a real conversation. She set a positive tone and made me optimistic about moving forward with Valence. The follow-up interview was a different experience. The interviewer didn’t introduce themselves, launched into 20 minutes of rapid-fire questions with little room for dialogue, and left the call a few minutes early to grab lunch before their next meeting. I applied to work at Valence because I was genuinely interested in the company and the work they do, and the recruiter reinforced that feeling. The second interview, however, did not, and left me wondering whether Valence practices what it sells. Advice to Management: Invest in interviewer calibration the same way you invest in your product. Candidates notice the gap.