I was asked to complete an extensive case study within 48h without ever having spoken to a recruiter or hiring manager, and without any transparency on salary or the overall interview process. I applied through the company website in early December and was soon invited to complete an asynchronous video interview, recording answers about my experience and motivation. More than a month later, a recruiter contacted me to request additional information such as my location, nationality, and work permit status. There had still been no live conversation to explain the role in more detail or outline the hiring stages. After this exchange, I was sent a substantial case study assignment with a 48-hour deadline that covered a weekend. The scope required significant time and effort. Expecting that level of commitment at this stage, without first discussing compensation, expectations, or mutual fit, felt unreasonable and misaligned. A simple introductory call beforehand would have shown greater professionalism and respect for candidates’ time. Overall, the process felt impersonal, robotic, and lacking transparency.