This was unfortunately one of the more frustrating interview experiences I have had. The process was extremely lengthy, and I found myself having to follow up multiple times with HR for updates. Communication was often slow, and there were long periods of waiting between interview stages.
Despite the delays, I progressed through several rounds, including interviews with senior stakeholders and the VP, before reaching the final interview with the line manager. Given how far I had advanced in the process, I was hopeful about the outcome and committed a significant amount of time and effort throughout the process.
After a prolonged wait and several follow-ups, I was informed that the company had decided to move forward with another candidate. The feedback provided was that I lacked sufficient work experience. However, I found this difficult to understand, as I have more than seven years of directly relevant professional experience in the field, while the role itself required only three years of experience.
While I fully respect the company’s right to select the candidate they believe is the best fit, the reasoning provided did not seem consistent with my background or the stated requirements of the position. This left me with more questions than answers, especially after successfully progressing through all interview stages up to the final round.
Overall, the combination of a lengthy hiring process, the need for repeated follow-ups, and feedback that appeared misaligned with the role requirements made for a disappointing candidate experience. Greater transparency, timelier communication, and more specific feedback would have helped make the process feel fairer and more respectful of the time invested by candidates.
