Apparently, companies don't understand that we as candidates are judging the recruiters and the team with whom we interview with, as much as they are judging us. Initial HR interview was extremely by the book, with no questions nor understanding of what makes me tick both inside and outside of work. Just a box checking exercise from individuals who show no personality, nor even ask you how you are, nor smile. Progressed to meeting with Hiring Manager and thereafter the presentation to him and his team. Again, no semblance of a human touch, just formulaic questions without a smile. As someone who interviews many candidates in my current role, I would have thought that an organisation such as Pipedrive would reflect some sense of fun in its culture. When I interview people within my team, I make sure that they would enjoy working with myself and my team, and that we don't come across as people who are all about the work element. I was told by the HR team that they felt "uncomfortable" giving me feedback. If you feel uncomfortable answering questions which are well within the remit of the candidate to ask (what made the other candidate a better pick than me) then perhaps it's worth evaluating whether what you do is something you really enjoy doing, if you're not cut out to deal with the questions. Ultimately, the decision doesn't even phase me. Because, if the team didn't understand that I have a sense of humour, that I can be fun, and that I can clearly present my ideas well, and do all this at the same time, then clearly culturally I wasn't the right fit for them. My advice to you as a company would be to seriously audit how you present yourselves in your interviews, because no one wants to join companies that are corporate, and lack any personality. If you're going to have people interview candidates for senior roles, ensure that they have enough experience to be prepared for the questions that may be asked of them, and to do so with a calm demeanour and a smile.