My interview experience with The Dedham Group left much to be desired, particularly in how they handle their candidates. The process began with an initial call with a recruiter, followed by three consecutive interviews. The first two interviews followed a standard format of behavioral questions and consulting market sizing exercises. However, the third interview, which was with a partner, deviated from the formula, making it a refreshing conversation compared to the earlier rounds. Before the final interview, I was tasked with a one-week take-home assignment involving Excel and PowerPoint. I put a significant amount of effort into this, hoping to make a strong impression. Unfortunately, after completing the entire process, including the final interview, I was left waiting for nearly two months to hear back. Despite almost weekly check-ins with the recruiter, I eventually received an automated rejection email. Given the level of commitment I had shown, I found this impersonal response highly disappointing. When I expressed my concerns to the recruiter, I was informed that they had over 100 applicants and that personally rejecting each candidate would be too time-consuming. While I understand the volume of applicants can be overwhelming, more transparency and communication throughout the process would have been appreciated. Overall, I felt misled into believing I was progressing far into the process when, in reality, I was no closer than a first-round candidate. I would recommend that The Dedham Group reevaluate how they manage candidate expectations and consider a more respectful approach to communication, particularly with those who reach the final stages of the interview process.