I was contacted shortly after I applied, which was pleasantly surprising. I had a telephone interview followed by an onsite. The onsite was basically a whole day. Because the interview was on the longer side, I had a chance to really understand the company and what this role might be like. I had to present on a topic of my choice that demonstrated relevant skills. I learned of the decision within 2 days after the interview.

I applied because I preferred their software/hardware product over options like Palantir or other AI shops. However, from the look of it, the hiring team isn’t calibrated on the role and seems to be reposting it constantly just to generate attention. I had what felt like a straightforward and productive conversation with the recruiting manager about the position and its expectations. To my surprise, I was completely ghosted afterward, despite multiple follow-ups. This was especially disappointing coming from someone in a leadership position. Experiences like this contribute to the negative perception of recruiters—offering poor candidate experiences and showcasing a lack of basic professionalism. What stood out as particularly odd was the manager's comment about avoiding candidates affected by layoffs. While I wasn’t personally impacted, I can’t help but feel for those who might be unfairly overlooked due to circumstances beyond their control. Are candidates supposed to lie about their experiences? Layoffs have become a norm in today’s job market—it’s not the early 2000s anymore. This mindset feels outdated, dismissive, and disconnected from the realities of the modern workforce.