During the interview, I was asked to share an example of a challenge I faced while leading a team. I began by describing a situation that occurred early in my time as a team lead, where we were working under intense pressure from a contractor. A new team member—unfamiliar with the consultancy environment—misunderstood the situation and ended up complaining about me to my superior.
Just as I was beginning to explain the broader context and how I handled the issue, the HR representative interrupted the conversation and stated that they need to stop the interview and not continue any more. Continued to say I wasn’t a cultural fit for the company. They mentioned that the company has a respectful, multicultural environment where employees learn and grow together. The representative also added that they had other candidates who were more suitable for the position. This decision was made without asking for any further details or clarifying questions, which left me surprised by the premature judgment.
I politely asked if I could continue explaining, and they allowed me to do so. I then shared the outcome of the situation—how the team member later recognized the misunderstanding, admitted to misjudging me, and came to appreciate my efforts to lead the team fairly under difficult circumstances. I also attempted to explain my management approach, which focuses on understanding team members individually and adapting to different working styles.
However, even with this opportunity, there was no meaningful engagement afterward, and I was left in a rather strange situation—unsure whether I had been able to express myself clearly.
Having conducted many interviews myself, I strongly believe in creating a space where candidates can be fully understood—both in terms of technical abilities and team compatibility via directing correct questions. Unfortunately, in this case, I wasn’t given that chance. The experience did not reflect the values that the HR representative claims to uphold, and I felt that my contribution and potential were not truly valued.
