I had a Zoom call with HR and the CEO. The HR representative was friendly, but the CEO arrived 10 minutes late and seemed disengaged. She repeatedly asked about details on my resume, often ignoring my responses as her follow-up questions were things I had just addressed.
Things took a turn when I asked about the day-to-day responsibilities, and the CEO’s vague response was, “like what you were doing before.” For reference, I had been managing marketing campaigns at an agency. When I inquired about what defines an “A Player,” I didn’t receive a clear answer. The most surprising moment came when I asked about working hours. The CEO seemed taken aback and explained that they expected more than 40 hours a week, adding that she believes if you love your work, you should always be on the clock.
My reaction must have been evident because she asked if this aligned with my views. I told her it did not, explaining that I believe in effective time management and that I work to live, not live to work. I also mentioned that for such expectations, the compensation would need to be significantly higher, considering the role was advertised at $60k-$80k. After that, I politely stated that I might not be the best fit for the position and ended the call.
