Shortly after I started working my first real job, my manager had to attend training regarding how to hire and interview. One of the things they drilled into h

Shortly after I started working my first real job, my manager had to attend training regarding how to hire and interview. One of the things they drilled into her was to make all the interviews as alike as possible. You MUST ask each candidate identical questions. Her impression was that this was to protect the company in the event an un-chosen candidate found about the differences and could find some grounds to sue. It's possible your experience sprung from the same lawsuit-averse well.