I scheduled a brief chat with the interviewer, but wasn’t given much context about what it would involve. I assumed it would be similar to other initial conversations, which focused on my background, experience, the role and the company. While it did cover those areas, it also included some unexpected technical questions. Caught off guard, I became flustered and gave an incorrect answer. The interviewer was friendly, though I sensed some uncertainty in their responses to my questions about the company and its culture, which made it harder to get a clear picture of what it would be like to work there. Ultimately, my incorrect response seemed to heavily influence the decision not to move me forward, which was disappointing, as it appeared to assume an overall lack of technical expertise without providing a fair opportunity to prepare and demonstrate my capabilities more fully. A more structured and transparent interview process, with clearly defined stages and upfront expectations, would help future candidates prepare more effectively and be better positioned to demonstrate their skills and succeed.