I had a disappointing interview…
I had a disappointing interview experience with this company.
The interview process consisted of three rounds. The first round with the Tech Lead and CTO was highly professional, technical, and well structured. The second round with the client also went well, and I successfully cleared both rounds.
My initial expectation was ₹22 LPA with a fully remote work setup.
During my first discussion with the CEO, he was offered ₹21 LPA with 4 days Work From Office and 1 day Work From Home. I didn't accept the offer immediately and requested some time to think. The CEO mentioned that HR would discuss the remaining details.
Later, I spoke with HR regarding the work mode. After a couple of days, HR called back and confirmed that while the client wasn't ready for a fully remote setup, they could offer ₹22 LPA with 3 days Work From Office. Based on this confirmation, I accepted the revised terms and even updated my Last Working Day.
However, another discussion was scheduled with the CEO. During this call, the offer was changed back to ₹21 LPA with 4 days Work From Office. When I politely referred to the discussion I had already had with HR, instead of resolving the inconsistency internally, the CEO became dismissive, made remarks like, "Baat mat karo, call rakh do bhai," and disconnected the call abruptly. I found this interaction unprofessional and unexpected, especially during a hiring discussion.
I completely understand that companies have the right to negotiate salary and work arrangements. However, candidates also expect clear communication, consistency, and professionalism throughout the hiring process. Unfortunately, the conflicting information from HR and leadership, along with the way the final discussion was handled, left a negative impression.
The technical and client interview experience was genuinely good, but the final negotiation process lacked coordination and professionalism. Because of this experience, I decided not to move forward with the opportunity.