I interviewed for a field merchandising role and unfortunately had a disappointing candidate experience. The recruitment process involved two interviews, a store visit, a SWOT analysis, and a travel plan. I was happy to complete these tasks and spent hours preparing them, but I was not informed that the SWOT analysis would be assessed as a presentation rather than as a piece of work to discuss. Following the final interview, the feedback focused heavily on subjective comments about my communication style rather than my merchandising experience, research, or ability to perform the role. I was also surprised to receive no positive feedback despite progressing through multiple stages of the process. I appreciate that not every interview results in an offer, and I respect the company’s right to select the candidate they feel is the best fit. However, I felt the feedback provided was unnecessarily personal and could have been delivered in a more constructive and professional manner. I would encourage the company to be clearer about assessment expectations and to ensure candidate feedback remains balanced and competency-focused.