The entire Southern California Edison interview felt like running a marathon only to stumble at the finish line: over three months I completed an HR phone screen, a rigorous one-hour proctored case study, a full panel interview, and a final 30-minute discussion with the hiring manager—only to wait another two weeks for a decision. Despite clearing every stage and demonstrating my fit for the role, my verbal offer was abruptly rescinded because of a minor date discrepancy on my résumé. The drawn-out process and harsh outcome left me frustrated and questioning whether a company that so tightly polices trivial resume details truly values the dedication and effort of its candidates.