Through a third party, I had prior experience with the company — specifically with this role — and knew I could do a great job. Applied through web site. My contact at the company also put in a good word for me. HR contacted me within two weeks to schedule a phone interview. Interview seemed to be going pretty well until the last five minutes, and then interviewer took a hard turn. She had dedicated a portion of the phone interview to assessing X equipment skill, which was not my strong suit. At the end of the interview, she asked if I had anything else I wanted to share. I said to her that if it came down to my aptitude or another candidate's on X equipment skill, I could come in and offer more extensive proof on why I was a better candidate. An earnest, respectful and motivated comment. She got suddenly and illogically hostile, encouraged me to "let her do her job." I have never experienced anything like it. It was such a sudden and irrational shift. After the interview, I went over every question and answer with a friend who is in HR at a large, well-known company. She suggested the possibility that the HR rep interviewed me because of employee referral but had a different candidate she wanted for the position — and manufactured a problem with my interview to discredit my candidacy. Seems in line with other reviews made here about office politics infecting the interview process. Or maybe the interviewer just had personal issues. I don't know. Only time I've experienced anything like it.