Eight Rounds. One Take-Home. Then They Couldn't Open the File.

A candidate cleared eight interview rounds, including sessions up to VP level, and submitted a full project plan with mockups as a take-home assignment. They shared only a view-only link — no source files, downloading disabled. After a week of silence following multiple follow-ups, they revoked access. Within twenty-four hours, the recruiter called with "good news" — then asked for a PDF because the reviewing team "couldn't open the presentation." The candidate refused to send source files but offered to present live. The recruiter hung up, called back tense, and admitted only four finalists' projects had been selected for internal review. The broken link had embarrassed the HR manager. The candidate stood firm: a "no, thank you" would have been fine. Lifting the work while ghosting was not.