I applied to 7Factor's apprenticeship program hoping to transition into tech through their stated mission of building teams with diverse backgrounds. While parts of the process were professional, there were several areas where the interview experience didn't align with the company's stated values and goals. Initial Interview: The first step was a behavioral interview which was standard but revealing. While one interviewer engaged meaningfully, the other seemed primarily focused on note-taking and asking prepared questions instead of sharing their answer or experience. This limited the opportunity for genuine dialogue about the company culture and experience. Technical Interview: The second interview was very different, multiple technical issues on their end aside. One interviewer arrived late, and rather than adjusting the schedule to accommodate the delay, the shortened time frame was maintained. The introductions were notably brief - the interviewers simply stated their years of employment with one adding that they "enjoy coding". Without any personal introductions, asking for me to introduce myself, or ask anything at all, they immediately directed me to present my project. I was hoping they at least had my resume in front of them if they weren't interested in hearing who I was as a person. During my project demonstration, I thoroughly covered my contributions, the application lifecycle, architecture decisions, and challenging aspects I'd overcome. However, the interviewers' questions seemed misaligned with the presentation. While one interviewer asked a general question, the other exclusively focused on the backend API components - parts they acknowledged I hadn't personally built but had plans to learn and refactor. Though I could confidently discuss these aspects due to my close collaboration with the backend team, it was confusing that they showed no interest in examining the features I had actually developed. The limited remaining time was allocated for my questions, though this felt rushed. When I inquired about challenges new apprentices typically face, there was an uncomfortably long pause before receiving the brief response: "apprentices not confident asking questions" - with no elaboration offered. Questions about mentorship were met with repetitive answers about mentor involvement, lacking any substantial detail. When asked what they would change about the company, one interviewer declined to answer entirely. The other briefly mentioned wanting more internal learning initiatives, piggybacking off of a question I had just asked that wasn't quite thoroughly answered. The interview concluded abruptly when I asked about next steps - a question that required them to search for a PDF containing standard responses, ultimately telling me to direct any remaining questions to HR despite having more to ask. Follow-up Process: Despite receiving confirmation of passing both interviews, the communication process was unclear: - Initial over two-week wait before receiving a check-in email about continued interest - of course I’m still interested! - Another two-week wait before receiving a generic mismatched-font rejection email. Total process time was significantly longer than the stated timeline Areas for Improvement: - Better alignment between stated company values and interview practices - More consistent interview experience across candidates (other candidates, who were hired, reported vastly different experiences - also revealing) - Clearer communication about timeline and next steps - Better preparation from interviewers regarding company processes and expectations While I appreciate the opportunity to interview, this experience highlighted a disconnect between 7Factor's stated mission of building diverse teams and their actual interview process for non-traditional candidates. For candidates transitioning into tech during a difficult job market period, especially those from non-traditional backgrounds, the interview process should reflect the company's commitment to diversity. I hope this feedback helps improve the experience for future applicants, including my colleague who accepted a position with them.