I went through phone screens, several interviews, a final phone interview, and then a long trail of emails and texts. Every time I spoke with the recruiter, they expressed interest and made it a point to ask if I was interviewing elsewhere. Six weeks into the process, the communication just stopped. Like so many others, I assumed I’d been ghosted. Then, three weeks later, I got a rejection email. Late at night. The entire process was disappointing. Especially for a company that emphasized “choosing the right person” and “culture” so heavily. Unfortunately, the way they handled the interview process didn’t reflect those values at all. If things were taking longer than expected, that’s completely understandable. But communicate. I invested my time, energy, and hope into this with nothing in return. Applicants deserve communication. Do the right thing by people, especially when your business is built around helping others start and grow their own. The job interview system is broken. Don’t contribute to that. Be better. You missed out on a creative, hardworking individual who understands the business you help clients run, and genuinely enjoys helping people solve problems. But that’s okay. I wish the company well. It’s clear you were looking for qualifications that went beyond what was listed in the job description.