The Interview That Wasnt: A Painful Mix-Up and 5 Lessons
Credit: Photo by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash
Losing my job made me realize how difficult the tech job market had become. And like most people, I needed a 9-5 to survive the harsh reality of Nigeria.
A Glimmer of Hope
It was a Saturday night, I can’t remember what I was up to. A random email notification popped up on my phone. It was a scheduled virtual meeting with no context—just a Google Meet link and zero hint on what it was about.
With so much impatience, I quickly searched the sender’s name on Google.
Found their LinkedIn profile and saw the company they owned.
I searched my Gmail for the company’s name and realized I had applied for a job they advertised a few weeks ago.
Alas, an interview after 50+ rejections, I said, heaving a sigh of relief.
I got pumped and started researching the company. I learned about its offerings, work culture, and even information about other developers on the team.
Not only that, but I prompted ChatGPT for mock interview questions, including how to ask and reply to questions.
A Crashing Disappointment
Interview day came. I joined the meeting and met someone on the call. We exchanged pleasantries, but they were shocked to see me.
A few minutes later, the “interview coordinator” joined, and he said, “Oh, seems we have another Olushola on here”. I was like, okay? What’s going on?
We exchanged pleasantries, and we kicked off the meeting.
Mind you, my camera was on and theirs wasn’t.
The entire conversation revolved around building his personal brand. Motivating those on the call and selling them the dream.
At that point, I knew I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Gosh, it feels like yesterday.
I started connecting the dots to how the email had no subject or body, stating that I had moved on to the next interview stage.
I had tricked my mind, thinking this was finally an answer to my prayer.
It was frustrating, upsetting, and disappointing. Leaving the call felt like the only option. So much time had been wasted, with hours spent practicing and getting ready for what was supposed to be an interview.
Before I could say anything after all those deep thoughts, I heard, “Guys, give me a sec”. Boom, I was yanked off the call.
It felt like a scene out of a skit. No apologies, nothing. Not like I intentionally decided to be an impostor.
My thoughts were to call him out online, but for what?
I didn’t even have an audience who would care. I felt pained, still jobless.
Well, the job hunting continues!
Did I learn anything from what happened? Probably.
What I’m changing next time
Reply to vague invites. Ask for the role, format, interviewers, and agenda.
If something feels off, pause and clarify early.
Invest time only after a confirmed interview.
Save emails, DMs, and job links in one doc.
Detach from outcomes: Momentum matters more than a single call.
Did you learn anything or find this piece interesting? Let me know in the comments.
If you are still here, I guess you liked my rants 😂
Kindly refer me to any writing or software development opportunities.
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