I submitted a resume via email as the practice was not posting on any job boards. Within a day, I was told there were no openings but that we could conduct a phone interview anyway. The phone interview was scheduled 7 days later -- where I was then told that there was an opening, because the day they received my email happened to be their newest hire's first day... and this new hire "didn't work out." Okay, that's fine. Phone interview went well, questions concerning availability and skills were the main components. I was told they needed the position filled "as soon as possible" and that the hiring manager was willing to create a dual position of Client Care + Veterinary Assistant because I was interested in full-time work. At the end of the phone screening -- after scheduling our 1:1 -- I was told that the in-person interview would be nothing more than "a quick briefing, and then 3 hours of training." When I arrived for my 1:1, I essentially re-interviewed for the position (approx. 70 minutes); the discussion was a carbon copy of the information gone over in the phone screening. This was disappointing, I figured they were busy and could have trimmed this down. I was then given a tour of the facility and then told to shadow the two Client Care Reps currently working. I have immense training in secretarial skills even at my relatively young age. I found that although they pride themselves in being completely digital, their practices were unnecessarily complicated (e.g. each client has a digital file, but any notes shared between all CCRs must be in a Notepad-esque offshoot program. Why?) Their scheduling software was atrociously hard to follow, and the CCRs working while I shadowed really should not have been teaching me the software, considering their lack of teaching skills. At the time of departure, I was under the impression that the job was mine. Maybe that was foolish of me, because as I was shown the exit, I was told they still had "a couple interviews to conduct." I thought I was the only one interviewing, seeing as the last hire hadn't "worked out" a week ago and they needed to fill the opening "as soon as possible." Why was I told over-the-phone that this would be 'training' if I wasn't being offered the job? Never over-sell a position to an applicant; always under-sell. Either way, I waited patiently for a response about the position. More than 2 weeks later, I was emailed that another candidate had been hired instead. The hiring manager even acknowledged that our 1:1 was "several weeks ago." Just how many more interviews did they have to complete? It seemed to me that this was not the best planning, seeing as there was a sense of urgency at the beginning of the month when the position was opened. Now it's the last day of the month and I'm a bit concerned that they aren't as organized as they claim to be. Either way, no hard feelings! Rejections happen. I pop over to Indeed.com to search through new listings of similar job openings, until I fall upon this listing: "Client Care Representative @ Village Veterinary Practice - Clarendon Hills, IL" --- posted 9 hours ago. Now if you'll remember, I sent them an email of my resume because they hadn't been posted on any job boards, including Indeed.com. Hmm... That post is still active today. So... did they end up hiring any one of their interviewees? I was told they had hired someone. With these smaller businesses, I expect more genuine, truthful conversations. I mean, it's not a big-box retailer -- they can't possibly receive as many applications as one. So, why lie and say they chose a candidate? They should have been honest and said they had not found someone who fit their position and they would continue to interview. That's the epitome of professionalism. All in all, I am more disappointed with the lack of professionalism within Village Veterinary Practice than anything. Other than the fact that I could easily infer that I personally was not given the entry-level position -- that I had years of experience and genuine interest with -- because I was young. In fact, looking at their website, 4 of the 5 CCRs currently employed with VVP are old enough to be my own parent. Sadly, the EEOC protects applicants and employees against ageism -- not adultism.