> the interview process is to indoctrinate a cult from the onset Yes, I would say this is true in general at all companies, though I prefer the phrase "company

> the interview process is to indoctrinate a cult from the onset Yes, I would say this is true in general at all companies, though I prefer the phrase "company/team culture" to "cult" (the phrases aren't that different in what they describe, just in emotional tone). Because it is not in itself a negative. every team has a culture, by definition of "culture". If they can make this explicit in the interview, then you as the candidate get a good sense of what this culture is and if you want to be a part of the team. If they can not make this explicit in the interview, then you as the candidate know that they don't have control over this variable, again giving you valuable information on if you want to be part of the team.