Went through a recruiter screen followed by a tech panel with 3 senior managers (one had 20+ years of experience). The experience was positive, and I was explicitly told by the recruiter that the panel considered me a 'great value add to the company.' However, received a rejection within 24 hours with contradictory reasoning — told they went with a 'more experienced candidate' despite the role requiring only 3+ years. When I asked the recruiter to clarify whether 'more experienced' meant more years or a specific skill gap, the response was vague and unconvincing. No communication, behavioral, or technical gaps were identified. Was then encouraged to apply to 5 more roles at Philips. I'm sharing this not out of bitterness but to help other candidates recognize this pattern and protect themselves from unnecessary self doubt about their abilities. The process may not always be as open as it appears. Trust your instincts.