I applied for the role with a referral and quickly received an interview invitation from the recruiter. However, just before the interview, I was notified that it had been canceled because an internal candidate was selected for the position. About a month later, the recruiter reached out again, explaining that the internal offer had fallen through and inviting me to continue in the process. I appreciated the recruiter’s thoughtful follow-up and attention to keeping me informed. The subsequent interview was casual and conversational, and I felt it went very well. I was told to expect next steps early the following week. When the week passed without communication, I reached out to follow up. The recruiter informed me that the hiring manager was on PTO and that I would hear back soon. After two more weeks of no updates (three weeks post-interview), I followed up again, only to learn that they had hired another candidate. This experience highlighted the importance of maintaining clear communication and upholding candidate expectations throughout the hiring process. Interviews require significant effort on a candidate’s part—coordinating schedules, taking time off from current roles, and staying proactive in follow-ups—and this effort should be respected. Unfortunately, being ghosted for updates and next steps raised concerns about the company’s hiring practices. I encourage future applicants to approach opportunities with an awareness of how the company manages its recruitment process.