I completed the first interview successfully and was then invited to complete a detailed case assignment, which required a significant time investment over a weekend. The final interview was scheduled based on the assumption that the next step was confirmed. Unfortunately, the interview was cancelled minutes before it was due to start, with the explanation that my salary expectations were above the budget for the role. This was particularly surprising, as salary expectations had already been discussed during the first interview and aligned with what was mentioned in the original job posting, and later even reframed by the recruiter toward a more senior range. While I understand that internal alignment can take time, late-stage cancellations after a case assignment has been submitted reflect poor process management and a lack of consideration for candidates’ time and effort. I appreciate that the recruiter communicated transparently in the end, but I would strongly advise future candidates to clarify budget alignment before investing significant time in an unpaid case assignment.