Started out with a really positive interview experience - was contacted directly by a recruiter about the role and asked to interview. Recruiter was very professional, sent me information about the role etc. First stage was meeting the hiring manager virtually - again, a super positive experience, we had mutual connections from my previous role at a competitor and the job sounded like a great fit! Second stage was a 20 minute presentation, followed by competencies and some personality questions. Was a detailed and thorough interview with both the hiring manager and another colleague from the H/O. Came away from the interview feeling optimistic and with positive feedback from the recruiter, was told that I would hear back the following Monday as they were interviewing 1 other person. However, Monday comes with no word from the recruiter, I call just before COP and am told they've had a last minute internal applicant, can I wait 1 more week so they can interview them, and I will get an answer the following Monday. At this point, no longer feeling optimistic! Next Monday rolls around and I'm given the news that the internal candidate has been given the job - dissapointing but not particularly surprising. However, when asking for feedback I just get told it was a very hard decision, and the hiring manager spent a long time deciding between myself and the other person. I did not consider this an adequate response, there were obviously pros and cons between us both and there must have been a deciding factor. The recruiter unfortunately had no other information apart from 'it was a hard choice'. I then contacted the HM directly on LinkedIn as we were connected, thanking her for the time and experience and reaching out directly for feedback...to be left on read! I can completely appreciate another candidate, particularly an internal one, being a better fit for a role and was not directly upset by the decision, it is the lack of feedback that has left a bad taste in the mouth and led to a negative experience. A significant amount of time and effort went into the preparation for the presentation and the interview, and to be told I narrowly missed out on the role, yet not be told why or how to improve for future interviews is completely unprofessional and disrespectful in my opinion.