I ignored all the red flags during the interview process: never being asked about my skills/passions, not being given any testing or assignments, having to sit there while the ceo bragged about everything under the sun. I barely got to talk during my interview. But I let it all go because I needed a job. I got the job. Everything started out great. Lots of work but lots of praise too. There was even a company-wide road trip to a major tech startup event. Money was flowing and being spent left and right. Everybody was happy. Being an early stage startup we were expected to wear many hats, and when I say everyone I mean the women. The dudes got to do what they were hired to do yet the women were stretched and pulled and pushed to fit whatever mold the “he” decided to play with. When it came time to hire another woman on the team, I was shocked to hear the CEO ask the other founders, “but is she hot?” after the interviewee left. I remember it clearly. I stood up and spoke up. Nothing rude, but just to acknowledge that I’d heard it and it was wrong. That was the beginning of the swift end of to my career there, because then came the thinly veiled threats and lies being made up about me to drive me out. Shame on that founding team for letting things always get to the point of unnecessary harassment and playing with people’s minds. I’m grateful to StoryChief because it helped me connect with fantastic professionals in tech. But I wouldn’t even wish my worst enemy to have to work for them.