This was one of the longest interview processes I’ve experienced, spanning eight rounds with multiple stakeholders. While most interviewers were professional and thoughtful, some initially seemed less engaged, understandably so given the number of rounds candidates go through without clear updates, which can take a mental toll on employees spending significant time interviewing rather than on impactful work. Across interviews, it became apparent that there was a lack of internal alignment and clarity around the expectations for the role. Different functions had differing views on what success in the role looked like, and the responsibilities and priorities were not consistently communicated. After completing eight rounds, the recruiter informed me that the team was reopening the role to focus on candidates with more experience in the tourism industry, contrary to the initial positioning shared when I was first approached. This highlighted the lack of cohesion around this new “big bet” initiative. Overall, the process was thorough, but could benefit from clearer direction, alignment, and transparency to ensure a better experience for both candidates and interviewers.