With this write-up, I am sharing my recent personal experience but I am sure many female professionals can relate to it. 

I am currently applying for jobs. Out of many applications, I received a call from a company. It was a small company but its hiring process was lengthy. After an introductory HR round, I was asked to take an online Aptitude Test. This came as a surprise to me because usually no company conducts such tests for experienced professionals. Anyway I cleared the test and my Technical Interview was scheduled soon after. 

I knew its hard to climb the corporate ladder for female professionals but it was shocking to know the mindset of our male subordinates, specially when the world is promoting gender equality and taking sincere actions on pay gap. 

Before interview, I was given a piece of advice. I was told to remove more than 2 years of my own start-up experience from my CV because that would make the company doubt my loyalty. I don't understand how one's loyalty can be doubted without knowing them or their background. Rather companies should encourage hiring such people who have taken risks to set up things. It only adds to their professional experience. This actually makes me different from my other professional subordinates who have been doing the same work since years.Today I have knowledge of two different worlds, IT and Hospitality. I have learnt so much about business and growth. I don't understand how it makes me any less. 

I would like to share the questions that were asked to me in the Technical Interview round, some really stupid questions that showcased sexism at its best.

Q1- How will you manage home and work post marriage? 

My thought process was Dude I am already managing just like any other female, like Indra Nooyi, like my mother. I am sure 90% females are asked this question in early stages of their career. I get it responsibilities increase post marriage but not just for a woman, for a man too, but my male counterparts are not asked this question. I think for them responsibilities increase more as they have to maintain peace between wife and mother also. Kidding! But this question is never asked to a male.

Q2- How will you pace up with work with a career gap of 2 years?

I wanted to yell at him saying dude there is no career gap. I have been constantly working. It's your problem you think working for my own startup is a career gap. I was courageous enough to take a break and set my own things, unlike you who has been doing the same work since years. Why doing something different or bigger is perceived as a career gap, specially in India? Even if one is a taking a break from career due to any reasons then what's the problem? Shouldn't we be judged on the basis of our knowledge, skills and expertise? 

Q3- How will you manage work if your husband has to travel to his working city post work from home?

I understand it's a valid question but I wanted to ask him how will he manage if his working wife decides to travel to her working city post WFH. This is a couple's personal thing to decide. Why the interviewer is so much interested? They should be concerned about timely delivery of work, rest is personal.

Q4- Soon you would decide to expand your family and go on leaves. This would affect the project.

My mind said seriously dude! How do you know that I will decide to expand the family SOON? We are entitled for maternity leaves as per government norms. Do you ask this question to our male subordinates also? Expansion of family is a joint responsibility. Males also get a week of paternity leave but are they asked such silly questions?

These were the most torturing questions that I encountered in my long career. It made me feel sad to know that such silly questions are still trending in the market. Ladies if you also faced such stupidity anytime in life please share that in comments section.