After applying online, a recruiter reached out to me pretty quickly to get the ball rolling. The process began with a phone interview with the hiring manager, followed by a call with the recruiter to go over salary and benefits. I was then given a presentation assignment. The task required me to create a presentation with my work history, previous projects, and a technical prompt that was assigned by the hiring manager. It took me a Saturday to complete. Despite being a local candidate, I presented virtually to the hiring manager and select members of the team, after which I received positive feedback. I was initially told that I would be moved to the final round (a half-day onsite), but about a month after the presentation, I received an abrupt email from a recruiter telling me they decided to go in another direction and couldn't provide me with any feedback. I was left feeling confused by the process (initially fast and positive, then silence and ultimately a rejection) and like Apeel didn't respect my time. I have completed presentations for interviews in the past, but typically that's saved for the final step of the process when both parties have a little more invested in each other. I'm not sure Apeel realizes what a big ask it is to have all applicants complete a sizable project that early in the process.