This was a second-stage interview, and the overall process was disorganised and disappointing. It was the third time I had joined a scheduled interview for this position. On the first two occasions, the interviewer did not attend, and I had to contact HR myself to find out what had happened and arrange another date.

The third interview was scheduled for 8:00 a.m., which I found slightly unusual as it was outside normal office hours, although I was happy to accommodate it because I normally wake up early. The interviewer joined approximately eight minutes late, did not acknowledge the delay and kept his camera switched off throughout the meeting. Following the two previous no-shows, this made the experience feel particularly impersonal and disengaged.

The interviewer focused heavily on trading experience, although the advertised position was for a Data Architect and my CV clearly states that I have not worked specifically in trading. My relevant experience in enterprise data architecture, cloud platforms, data modelling and governance was not explored properly. Based on the tone and direction of the conversation, I was left with the impression that the interviewer may already have formed a decision before speaking with me.

Overall, the interview did not feel structured, respectful or aligned with the advertised role. Candidates invest considerable time preparing, and I would have expected clearer communication, proper engagement and a fair opportunity to demonstrate the experience relevant to the position.