[stared]

To be fair, I don't think that its only big companies that discriminate (e.g. too many are agist, classist, or have a bias against parents). Though, small companies vary. And even if one is biased one way, it's likely that there are some (as in "any") that are not.

For social awkwardness - there are many kinds of that. For some corporate interview process may be not an issue. For others, a road blocker.