I had a promising initial video interview with a member of the HR team, who was really warm, professional, and gave me great feedback—she even said she thought I’d be a strong candidate and wanted to progress me to the next stage with the hiring team the following week. Unfortunately, after that conversation, I never heard back. I followed up the next week, but my email went unanswered. There was no communication, no update, not even a simple "thanks but no thanks"—which I found quite disheartening and unprofessional after such a positive start. While I understand things change, especially in recruitment, a basic level of respect and communication goes a long way. Candidates invest their time and energy into your process, and a thoughtful follow-up—regardless of outcome—shows integrity and care for your employer brand.