I went through a three-step interview process with Baselane: an initial conversation with the VP of Partnerships, a second call with a Co-Founder, and a third round involving a detailed case study outlining partnership strategy, acquisition approach, and go-to-market recommendations to the panel. While the first two conversations were positive and seemed promising, the case study stage raised concerns. The level of depth requested—covering strategy, outreach, and execution—felt more aligned with a paid consulting engagement than a standard interview assignment. Throughout the process, I started getting the sense that the company was more interested in gathering ideas than in evaluating candidates for an actual hire. Shortly after submitting and presenting the case study, I was told they were “moving forward with another candidate.” However, the same day, the company reposted the position publicly. This reinforced the feeling that the role may not have been genuinely active and that candidate insights were being leveraged without intent to hire. Advice to Candidates: Don't waste your time Advice to Employer: Using candidates’ work without clear hiring intent signals a lack of respect for their time and expertise, and ultimately harms the company’s reputation. (Shameful tactic)