I interviewed for this position just before the Labor Day weekend with the recruiter. The interview was a Zoom call and went as most initial recruiter conversations do: we discussed my desired compensation, details about the company and the role, and my experience. We had a great conversation, and I was told I would be moving on to the next round and that the recruiter would follow up after the holiday. After two weeks passed and three follow-up attempts on my end, I received no response. I eventually reached out to the recruiter on LinkedIn for some clarity and was told the position had already been filled. Being rejected isn't the issue—hiring decisions change, and that's understandable. What was disappointing was being told to expect the next round, then receiving no communication whatsoever despite multiple follow-ups. Had I not reached out on LinkedIn, I likely never would have known the position had been filled. Candidates invest significant time preparing for interviews, researching the company, and making themselves available throughout the hiring process. The bare minimum is clear and timely communication, even if the decision is simply that the company has decided to move in another direction. Based on my experience, the lack of follow-through and respect for a candidate's time left a very negative impression of the company's recruiting process.