The interview focused on assessing knowledge of water supply systems, including design, maintenance, and optimization. Key topics included hydraulic modeling, pump stations, distribution networks, water treatment processes, and sustainability. The candidate's problem-solving abilities, technical expertise, and familiarity with industry standards were also evaluated.

The initial call and one-on-one presentation were straightforward, though one interviewer interrupted me whilst I was talking with a short “well, that’s all I needed to know”. It was so abrupt that the other apologised for it (the interviewer who interrupted me never apologised), which made the rest of the interview feel awkward, and also made me feel uneasy due to the tone. Plus, it made me question whether I would even want the job if offered with team members who interrupt like that - it certainly was a first for me. I was informed I would receive an update soon after the interview, it took just over two weeks. When I reached out to the recruiter in the meantime, their response seemed quite distant, with the impression being they didn’t really know who I was, which felt unprofessional. Whilst waiting and thinking about the interview and HR’s response, when the rejection email came through, I think I felt a sigh of relief due to the experience I had. Later learned they went with an internal candidate had a funny feeling I was just a tickbox all along.