I was initially contacted by HR for a phone screening, during which I clearly communicated my salary expectations. I then went through seven interviews, after which I was informed that I had not been selected for the original role but that my profile was a strong fit for a different position. This led to three additional interviews. I was ultimately selected for the role; however, the salary offered was below the range I had stated from the very first conversation, which unfortunately led me to decline the offer. I want to emphasize that every interviewer I interacted with was professional, respectful, and highly knowledgeable. That said, the misalignment between HR and hiring management was disappointing. Going through a total of ten interviews over nearly two months, only to receive an offer below the initially agreed salary range, was not a positive experience. I believe BCG would benefit from revisiting and better structuring its interview and compensation alignment process. This was my second application experience with the firm in the past three years, and unfortunately, the overall experience has not improved. The prolonged timelines and uncertainty can create unnecessary stress and anxiety, which can significantly impact a candidate’s mental well-being.