I recently interviewed with Symetra for a Test Automation Engineer role and left the process feeling disrespected, confused, and ultimately ghosted. Not the impression a company should be leaving on candidates.
The final round interviewers were condescending and dismissive from the start. At one point, mid-answer, I was abruptly cut off simply for using the word "we" when describing a project. The interviewer snapped, "Why are you saying we? I didn't ask what WE did. I asked what YOU did." While clarifying individual contributions is fair, the delivery was rude and unnecessary. It rattled my train of thought and set a tense tone for the rest of the conversation.
It only got more baffling from there. I was asked a question that conflated a page locator with a pull request, two concepts that exist in entirely different contexts. It didn't feel like a thoughtful assessment. It felt like a poorly constructed gotcha that revealed the panel wasn't aligned on what the role actually required. The interviewer repeatedly claimed he was "confused" and struggled to follow my answers, despite the fact that the position was for a Test Automation Engineer, not a full stack developer. The technical bar being applied didn't match the role advertised.
One interviewer made a point of mentioning he had been with the company for 10 years. Whether intentional or not, it came across as a signal that tenure grants permission to be dismissive and condescending toward candidates, which is a troubling reflection of the culture.
Despite all of this, I sent a thank you note after the interview. I was completely ghosted. No follow-up, no rejection, nothing.
If you're considering interviewing here, go in with eyes open. The process felt disorganized, the panel was not aligned on the role's scope, and basic professional courtesy was in short supply.