Five Hours on the Road. 'I Like You.' Then an Auto-Reply.

A candidate applied to a Fortune 500 firm, advanced through several rounds, and was encouraged to consider a senior role instead. They drove five hours for the final interview. The director said 'I like you,' discussed salary, and raised relocation. Weeks later, the candidate received an automated rejection email. No personal follow-up. No travel reimbursement despite prior assurances. They called it the worst interview of their life.