What's the experience with interviewing been like across your career?

A friend and I were reflecting on how no two interviews we've had throughout our careers have been the same. We both prefer organic, conversational interviews over rigid, standardized ones, though we do see the value of standardized interviews for schools aiming for consistency across candidates.

For me, every international teaching position I’ve secured came from informal, warm interviews where the conversation flowed naturally. In contrast, the more structured interviews felt forced and lacked genuine connection. I often walked away from those feeling like I’d messed up— and often I did. But over time, I realized it was maybe less about my performance and more about the lack of chemistry with the school or interviewers.

What about you? Do you notice any patterns in your interview experiences?