I went through a recruiting process that started off on a positive note – the HR and team lead interviews were pleasant and professional. I was then given a take-home assignment, which required a significant investment of time and even personal expenses (cloud costs). When it came time to review the assignment, I was interviewed by someone who came across as hostile and dismissive, which made the experience very uncomfortable. After that, I had another interview with the end client for whom the position was intended. From that point onward, I was completely ghosted. I never received any update or even a rejection. After waiting more than six weeks, I reached out to the recruiter, but my message was ignored. Overall – the process felt unprofessional and disrespectful of candidates’ time and effort.