I was recently interviewed for a penetration tester role here and feel compelled to share my experience. The interview process started off promisingly: I was contacted on Linkedin, where salary expectations were clarified in advance(!). An interview was scheduled for me within only 2 days, which only lasted 45 minutes and had a fairly friendly atmosphere. After the interview, I encountered several issues that ultimately reflected poorly on the company's approach to hiring and valuing candidates. First, despite open discussions around the expected compensation package, where I clearly stated that I would not consider an offer below a certain number, I was given a final offer of 30% less(!), which was also the lowest offer in their salary range. For a role as demanding as this - where both the legal and professional responsibilities are high - this salary is far below industry norms and what one would expect for someone with more than a dozen years of IT experience and substantial security expertise. Offering such a low salary indicates a lack of understanding about the specialized skillset required for this work, and frankly, feels insulting to people like me who regularly dedicate their time to cyber security training, development and education. Additionally, the position was initially advertised as fully remote, yet at the last minute, I was informed that I would need to pay out of my own pocket for travel, food, and accommodation for several weeks to complete an onboarding process. Most reputable companies recognize that onboarding is a fundamental part of welcoming a new hires and cover these costs. Asking candidates to bear these expenses is a concerning red flag that signals a disregard for basic employee support. While I genuinely hoped to join this team and expand my knowledge further, the lack of transparency around the role’s true requirements, as well as the low offer and the sudden financial burdens, made me feel undervalued and disrespected. I would advise future applicants to be clear and firm in their own requirements if they choose to go through the hiring process at Pentest People. Don't let them (and all the fake "5 stars" comments fool you.