He completed four rounds: an HR screening, a technical interview with a department head, an in-person with the director, and a final Zoom with the person who would be his manager. After each one, the feedback was positive.
Then nothing.
A week after the final round he followed up. He was told people had been out of the office and no decision had been made. He moved on with his life. Three weeks later, HR was still emailing every week to say he remained in consideration, that no decision had been made, that they were finishing up interviews, and asking him to flag any change in his availability.
The role was mid-level sales support. Not a manager, not a senior position, not a search that needs a quarter. He could not work out what the company gained by keeping him warm — or whether there was a decision at all.
He asked whether anyone else had been strung along like this. The emails kept coming. So did the silence behind them.