My interview experience with Spark started strong but ended in one of the most confusing and drawn-out processes I’ve been through. The interview rounds themselves were positive. I completed six interviews plus a take-home assignment, and everyone I met seemed engaged. The issues began after the final interview. Here’s the actual timeline: Two full weeks of silence after the final round. A surprise “checking in” email from the VP. A gift card thanking me for “my patience,” despite no actual updates. A week later, a request for references. No mention that other candidates were also in reference checks — which would have set more realistic expectations and avoided confusion. Another week of silence. Finally, a rejection email from the recruiter. Followed the next day by an email from the VP of CS offering glowing praise about my background and references, saying I’d be an asset anywhere and that they’d love to work with me in the future. While the VP’s note was kind, receiving such strong compliments only after the rejection — and after a month of unclear, inconsistent communication felt more like an attempt to soften the process than something genuinely helpful. Pros: Interviewers were friendly. Conversations were thoughtful. Cons: Long stretches of silence. Mixed signals (check-in, gift card, reference checks). No transparency that multiple candidates were going through references. A full month between final interview and final decision. Rejection delivered very late in the process. Additional praise-filled email post-rejection that added to the emotional whiplash. I hope Spark improves the pacing, transparency, and communication around their hiring process — especially for finalists who invest significant time and effort.