So context doesn't matter? And they're to blindly trust you? Because you said so [1]? Because they've never been screwed by an interviewer before? My sense is, you don't get out enough (i.e., be the candidate).

I hope the next time you do an interview the candidate asks, "Why should I trust you?" or "When was the last time you were the interviewee?"

[1] That's not how trust works. It is, by definition, earned.

...I don't know what to tell you dude.

It just sounds like you're projecting your poor interview experiences onto me.

If you can't take a statement as unambiguous as "feel free to ask questions at any time" at face value, then why even bother interviewing?

And for the record, I've been the candidate in plenty of interviews. I've done the 5-hour FAANG interviews and know how shitty they are. It's why I specifically designed the coding interview process at my company to be much more candidate friendly.

Not really. It sounds like:

1) You don't understand human nature in the context of interviews.

2) You're making it about you and how exceptional you are, and have forgotten you're only half - at best - of the process

3) You've forgotten that - directly or indirectly - you are also being interviewed (by the candidate).

4) It's (all but) 2024. 20th Century mindsets need to die already.

This isn't about my experience(s). This is about having a proper and healthy understanding of the paradigm / process.

I appreciate your input. I hope you appreciate mine (but I doubt it).