Was contacted directly by the CEO via LinkedIn regarding an opportunity at Home From College. I had not previously heard of the company, but after researching the brand and leadership, I was genuinely intrigued by the mission and culture being presented online. The interview process itself felt very different from what was portrayed publicly. My first conversation with a director was extremely casual and focused mostly on logistics. I was not asked many questions about my actual skills, experience, leadership style, or accomplishments. The second interview with the CEO followed a similar pattern and focused heavily on my current company’s business model, internal processes, and proprietary technology rather than my qualifications or how I would contribute to the role itself. After not hearing back, I followed up a few times over the course of a month and received very limited communication aside from being told applications were still under review. I ultimately never received a clear rejection, update, or closure on the process. What made the experience especially disappointing was the contrast between the company’s public messaging around modern hiring practices and transparency versus the actual candidate experience I encountered. Based on the content shared online, I expected a more thoughtful, communicative, and candidate-focused process.