I don’t often write negative reviews, but after my recent experience interviewing for an IT leadership position at Hillpointe, I feel compelled to share my thoughts. In my career, I’ve only encountered a handful of companies that seemed doomed for failure, and unfortunately, Hillpointe is one of them. Before I even went into the interview, I had heard some concerning feedback from a former colleague who had worked in the marketing department there. She had nothing positive to say about Hillpointe’s leadership, but I wanted to form my own opinion. The interview process quickly made two things painfully clear: Incompetent Leadership: The CFA who is leading the IT team has no understanding of IT and clearly lacks basic interview skills. My questions were ignored or misunderstood, and the IT team members themselves were able to offer more coherent and knowledgeable responses. It was incredibly frustrating to see how disconnected the leadership was from the actual operations of the IT department. No Vision for Growth: When I asked about the potential to build or scale the IT team, I was bluntly told, “Do not have any delusions of building or scaling a team.” At the time, I was told that an IT team of three was responsible for over 600 users across multiple states—with no network engineer, no cybersecurity specialist, just a deployment tech and two helpdesk desks. I couldn’t fathom how this setup could be sustainable, but I was further told, “Do not have any goals or aspirations of growing or adding any team members.” This lack of vision for growth, both in terms of team expansion and departmental improvement, was a major red flag. After the interview, a male tech who I spoke with off-the-record gave me a sobering piece of advice: "Be aware, you will be working 24/7, 365." He explained that Hillpointe's leadership, particularly the CFA, is known for burning people out and that IT leadership roles tend to last only a few months before employees inevitably leave. This gave me a clear understanding of why the company struggles to retain IT leadership. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Hillpointe’s leadership is out of touch with reality. The CFA’s complete lack of understanding of IT management, combined with the toxic, unsustainable work culture, made it clear that this company is not a place for anyone looking for professional growth or stability. To top it all off, after the interview, my marketing friend reached out to me to confirm what she had previously mentioned: Hillpointe's executive leadership operates under the guise of a "great place to work," promoting their company with slick LinkedIn videos and content, but it’s all a front. While I was extended an offer, I ultimately declined. My experience at Hillpointe, along with the feedback from my colleague and the interview itself, made it clear that this is not a company I want to associate with. Be cautious if you’re considering a role or position with Hill pointe. There are much better opportunities out there with organizations that truly understand leadership, growth, and the value of a balanced work environment.