Pretty straightforward interview process:
1) Call with recruiter
2) Interview with hiring manager
3) Case Study Presentation
4) Panel Interviews
It wasn't the best experience working with the Recruiting Coordinator that was the lead for filling this role. It just felt like she was handed this role last minute... extremely monotone, read off of her notes the entire time, barely had any visibility beyond answering surface level questions. The rejection email she sent after I completed the final interviews immediately started off (and essentially ended) with "We recently extended an offer that was accepted by another candidate..." Just no empathy whatsoever.
Conversations with everyone else went well for the most part. The case study presentation and panel interviews were conducted on the same day. There was a question the hiring manager asked me during a separate conversation we had after my presentation that made me immediately realize they already had someone in mind for the role and that my presentation/remaining panel interviews, no matter how well they went, wouldn't change their decision.
During my conversation, the hiring manager started to probe into a specific recommendation I provided and it wasn't from the perspective that she wanted to gauge my expertise regarding the subject matter or that she wanted to see how I would think through her question. It was obvious that she only cared about learning about the ins and outs of the recommendation and how it could benefit her own work. She basically had no interest in learning more about me and just wanted to squeeze out any remaining value/knowledge she could get.
Look I understand that the team is obligated to carry out any remaining scheduled interviews with candidates even when they already have someone in mind. But come on... make it a little less obvious.