The interaction with GFL started well with an HR screening process (15min). The second stage was scheduled directly with the VP. This was a red flag for me because it usually is indicative of a VP with a strong, inflexible personality that doesn’t trust lower-level managers with this task. The interview with VP took an hour. Overall, it was disappointing and off putting. The conversation was polite for the most part; the VP came across as someone who likes to show off his extensive expertise and didn’t show restraint in showing the candidate (me) that I was nowhere near his expectations for the role. Comments like “I was expecting a very senior candidate” are demeaning, unbecoming of a professional representing GFL and are bound to derail the focus of the candidate (unless this was the plan). Despite the urge of cutting the interview short, I found the strength to let it run its course as an educational experiment of what not to do when I interview people myself. It seemed to also be a cultural clash of sorts, perhaps in his culture this kind attitude is allowed. I didn’t have answers to all his technical questions but I answered honestly and never pretended to be someone else. Many questions bordered on academical side. Most questions were open ended but I was left with the impression that the interviewer was expecting something very specific out of them. Perhaps asking specific questions would have produced a better outcome. Since the role had a “people skills” component to it on leadership, the VP seemed uninterested in the candidate experience on the matter, summing it up along the lines of “if you are not technically strong to answer all questions, people will not respect you”. Enough said. I am glad to have participated in this interview; it showed me that I dodged a bullet by avoiding working under the leadership of this VP. The role might be suitable for others. Lastly, the HR followed up to let me know the outcome of the interview, which I appreciated. It showed that they respected the time the candidate put in to participate in the process.