I recently went through the interview process for a MERL Manager position. It was a rigorous four-stage process, and I was incredibly encouraged to make it all the way to the final round. Reaching that point gave me a real sense of hope and confidence that the role was within my grasp.

The final interview was held online via Google Meet. I’ll admit, I felt quite tense, but I focused on presenting my answers as clearly and accurately as I could, supporting each point with relevant examples from past experiences.

Unfortunately, I was not selected for the role. When I asked for feedback, I was told that my responses came across as scripted, as if I were reading directly from notes prepared by an AI tool.

The news was disappointing, and to be honest, it left me feeling quite disheartened. The experience has made me reconsider ever applying to that organization again.