I had a generally positive impression of Oakland Family Services and appreciated how intentional the team is about finding the right fit for their roles. The staff I interacted with were kind, professional, and clearly passionate about the mission of the organization. However, the interview process itself was quite lengthy. From start to finish, it spanned close to two months and included a phone screening, followed by a first-round in-person interview, and then a second-round in-person interview. While I understand and respect that they want to be thorough and thoughtful in their hiring decisions, this timeline may be challenging for many candidates who are actively job searching and unable to wait that long for a single employer’s process to conclude. Throughout the interviews, I was consistently told that my experience and professionalism aligned well with the organization and that I was viewed as a strong fit for the role. I also met the years of experience and educational requirements outlined in the job posting. Because of this, I was surprised and disappointed to ultimately receive an automated rejection email stating they were moving forward with other, stronger candidates — especially after being told I would receive a phone call with an update. After the rejection, I was informed that although I met the experience and education criteria, my background did not align with the company’s culture or operating style. While I respect that cultural fit is important, this feedback felt unexpected given the consistent positive messaging throughout the interview process. Additionally, I was told they had moved forward with stronger candidates, yet the position remains open and has continued to be posted for several months. This creates confusion for candidates and may suggest that the organization needs to revisit what they are truly looking for in a Talent Acquisition Specialist. Greater clarity upfront could help ensure candidates do not invest significant time and emotional energy into the process only to be told no after multiple rounds and a long wait. Overall, Oakland Family Services seems like a mission-driven organization with caring staff, but there is room for improvement in candidate communication and in setting clearer expectations around timelines, role alignment, and final follow-up. Providing more transparency and more personalized closure would greatly improve the candidate experience, particularly after multiple interview rounds and a significant time investment