I was disappointed by how the process was managed. Reference checks were requested before the client had confirmed the role or hiring timeline. In senior recruitment, that’s generally a late-stage step indicating an offer is imminent, so I provided senior referees in good faith during the holidays. Unfortunately, the role was later placed on hold, meaning the process had advanced without confirmed intent to hire. This caused lost time, opportunity cost, and unnecessary effort for both myself and my referees. I’d strongly encourage Drake to ensure clients have clear hiring approval and timelines before moving to formal reference stages in the future. I appreciated the consultant’s professionalism and courtesy, but the process governance could be improved for senior-level candidates.