I interviewed for a Talent Acquisition leadership position and found the experience somewhat different from what I had expected based on the company's international branding.
The interviewer was professional and respectful throughout the discussion. However, I left with the impression that my background and experience were not fully understood or evaluated in the context of the role. The conversation appeared to focus on a relatively narrow interpretation of Talent Acquisition, and there was limited discussion around broader areas such as employer branding, stakeholder management, organizational influence, and strategic talent planning, despite these being significant parts of my experience.
Based on the interviewer's publicly available LinkedIn profile, I understood that his direct Talent Acquisition experience appeared relatively limited compared with the seniority of the position being discussed. As a result, some of the discussion felt misaligned with the scope and complexity of the work I had previously led. The feedback I later received suggested that I lacked the level of experience they were seeking, which was surprising given the scale and seniority of my prior responsibilities.
In addition, I expected a more international environment based on the company's external branding. However, the recruitment process felt considerably more domestic and Japanese-centric than anticipated.
I fully respect the company's hiring decision. However, I left the process with the impression that my experience was not fully understood and that there was a gap between the company's external image and the candidate experience I encountered.