'You've accomplished nothing': Intern narrates 'worst interview experience' with crypto firm CEO

The interview, which Peiyuan Jin reported lasted only seven minutes, ended with Yao Meng allegedly making a belittling remark.

A software engineer recently took to LinkedIn to share his negative experience during an interview for an internship at a cryptocurrency firm, where he claimed the company’s CEO exhibited unprofessional and demeaning behaviour. Peiyuan Jin, who was applying for a Quant Developer Intern position at Trade Terminal, described the interaction as the "worst interview experience" of his career.

Jin, a software engineering intern based in the United States, recounted how his interview with Yao Meng, the CEO of Trade Terminal, took an unpleasant turn from the outset. Jin stated that when he began introducing himself, Meng interrupted to mock his previous work experience at John Deere, a well-known manufacturer of agricultural machinery. According to Jin, Meng expressed disbelief that a tractor company would even require software services.

As Jin attempted to discuss his past projects, Meng allegedly continued to interrupt with condescending questions, criticising him for not "thinking big" enough. The interview, which Jin reported lasted only seven minutes, ended with Meng allegedly making a belittling remark: "I'm a billionaire because I think big, but look at you—you've accomplished nothing."

Jin's LinkedIn post has since gone viral. He concluded his post by urging higher management to maintain a respectful and professional approach when interacting with junior candidates. "No candidate should have to endure this kind of treatment, regardless of their background or the companies they've worked for. Interviews should be a respectful and constructive dialogue, where both parties can engage meaningfully," Jin wrote.

The post attracted significant attention, with many users in the comments section criticising Meng's behaviour.

One commenter noted, "Interviews should be a space for constructive dialogue and mutual respect, not a platform for tearing someone down."

"You got saved from a future toxic work environment," a user wrote.

A user recounted their own experience and wrote, "Don't take it personally, there's a lot of folks who should be doing serious self-reflection and deep therapy instead of getting their toxicity out in what should be a professional setting. It sucks to see another Asian-American lifting up the ladder instead of lifting up the next generation. The most toxic boss I ever had was like this, eventually karma hit in the form of an HR lawsuit because of how egregious their behaviour had gotten. It was a lesson for me on what kind of person I don't want to be. Silver lining was I did the work to avoid being that kind of person and I'm much happier for it."