Ok_Trouble_847's journey

I recently interviewed for an internship at a small nonprofit organization, and the experience left me feeling quite unsettled. I was genuinely excited about the role, having spent considerable time preparing and researching the organization’s projects. My academic background aligns well with the position, so I was hopeful. However, the interview was uncomfortable from the start. The interviewers joined about five minutes late without any acknowledgment, which made me feel disregarded. When they finally joined, one of them immediately criticized my internet connection, which I found unnecessary since there were no issues during the rest of the interview. They rushed through introductions, and I barely had a chance to respond before they moved on to their questions. The interview was supposed to last longer than it did, but it felt very rigid with little room for follow-up or meaningful discussion about my background. I felt rushed and unable to fully express what I could bring to the role. What really struck me was how defensive their responses were when I asked questions. For instance, I referred to the weekly hours mentioned in their document, and one interviewer corrected me with a different figure, making me feel like I had misunderstood something. Similarly, when I asked about the areas of work interns contribute to, their response felt overly defensive, emphasizing their small size rather than providing clarity. Even when I asked about the qualities they valued in an intern, the answer started with a negative example about not wanting mistakes, which felt like an odd way to respond to a genuine inquiry. Despite my efforts to remain polite and positive throughout the interview, I left feeling that the communication was unnecessarily sharp and that I hadn’t been given a fair chance to showcase my potential. Then came the recruitment timeline. They had stated that candidates would receive a decision by a certain deadline and even encouraged me to reach out for updates. That deadline has passed, and after waiting, I sent a polite follow-up email, but I still haven’t received a response. I understand that delays can happen, but the combination of an uncomfortable interview, inconsistent information, and a lack of communication after their own deadline raises concerns for me. I’m at the beginning of my career and would love to hear if others have had similar experiences. Is this typical behavior for smaller organizations, or should I consider these signs as red flags about the working environment?