I applied for a Human Resources Associate position with the City of Philadelphia in July 2024 and participated in both a phone interview and an in-person interview. Despite months of waiting, I only received a rejection email in November 2024. During the time from July to October, I reached out to the administrative assistant for updates multiple times but received no meaningful response. On the rare occasions I did hear back, I was told the hiring manager was on vacation or given other vague excuses that only added to the frustration. The lack of clear communication throughout this process was incredibly unprofessional. Candidates dedicate significant time and effort to interviews and deserve timely and respectful updates. Unfortunately, the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Human Resources failed to meet this standard, leaving me without any transparency or follow-up for months. As a college-educated professional, I found the process overly drawn-out and disheartening. To maintain a strong reputation, the City of Philadelphia needs to prioritize professionalism and treat candidates with the respect they deserve. Thankfully, I’ve moved on to a much better opportunity and couldn’t be happier!