The process began with an email from the Director of Client Success, informing me that the first interview would be with the VP of Client Success. This was unusual compared to most mid-sized companies (150+ employees), where an initial conversation is typically with a recruiter or HR representative. The interview lasted about 30 minutes. While the VP asked standard questions about my background and fit for the role, the conversation felt transactional rather than exploratory. There was little engagement or follow-up on my answers, which made it difficult to gauge mutual interest. I left the call with the impression that the purpose may have been to fulfill a multiple-candidate interview requirement rather than to assess my specific qualifications in depth.