As someone who was genuinely excited about the prospect of joining Gartner — a company known for its best-in-class reputation — I was incredibly disappointed and underwhelmed by the candidate experience. I applied for an HR leadership position and was referred by a current employee. About a week later, I was contacted by a Talent Acquisition sourcer and asked to schedule time via her calendar. I did so immediately, only to find she was fully booked for about two weeks. I selected the earliest time available, but about a week before the interview, the rep canceled due to a medical appointment and asked me to reschedule. Again, her calendar was limited, so I pushed out another week. Then, just days before that second scheduled interview, I received an email from her stating that the role had been filled and that my resume would be kept on file for future opportunities. What made this experience particularly frustrating, beyond the lack of urgency and pushing me off or respect for my time was that in both instances, the TA sourcer never formally canceled the scheduled calls. It was just implied through email, with no updates on the calendar invite or follow-up communication. As a seasoned HR leader who has overseen TA functions, this experience did not reflect the standard I expected from an organization like Gartner. Advice to Management: Your employer brand is only as strong as your candidate experience. In a competitive talent market it’s critical that your recruitment team demonstrates the professionalism and operational excellence that Gartner is known for. Invest in training and accountability for your TA team to ensure a better, more respectful experience for future candidates.