The interview process was disorganized, poorly coordinated and lengthy. I sent my resume on 2/16/2025, and finally interviewed in person in July, 2025. The process included an initial recruiter screen, two remote video interviews, and an in-person interview that required travel from Wisconsin to Ohio. Despite the time investment on both sides, multiple interviewers appeared unprepared. Several had not reviewed my résumé in advance and asked basic background questions that should have been addressed earlier in the process. My recruiter was not present for the in-person interview. I was rejected, and the role remained open for approx five more months before an offer was made to another candidate. The rejection was a shock, because I offer >20 years of experience doing very similar work, backed by three related Master’s degrees and a multitude of related ecommerce certifications. Meanwhile, the person they hired lacked my experience and my educational credentials, but was female, younger, and a minority. Also, I am a former U.S. Army Officer, and this candidate never served (according to her LinkedIn profile). I suspect they didn’t want someone with expertise to challenge the company president, who fancies himself an ecommerce expert, judging from our lunch conversation. Ultimately, the individual hired left the role in under a month, and the position appears to be vacant again. In total, Mazzella at least 9 months before filling a critical leadership role. The experience reflected a lack of clarity around decision-making authority, role expectations, and accountability in the hiring process. .