The recruiter reached out about a role that seemed like a strong match, and we initially discussed a senior-level version of the position. At some point—without much explanation—I was told I was no longer being considered for the senior E-rate AR role and was suggested to apply for the standard-level role in the same department. Fine, I adapted. The interview itself went well on my end. I felt confident in my responses and brought strong examples. But the 2 hiring managers were vague, didn’t seem engaged, and didn’t clarify basic details—like who managed what team or what the structure looked like. That set off some red flags for me. A major red flag emerged at the very start of the interview: one of the managers mistakenly believed I was interviewing for the senior role—despite the recruiter informing me days earlier that I was no longer being considered for it. This clearly signaled a breakdown in internal communication, or worse, a disregard for providing candidates with a respectful, coherent process. It left me questioning whether the team was disorganized or simply indifferent. I received a rejection the very next morning. It left me feeling like they had already made their decision before the interview even happened. The process felt misaligned and poorly coordinated. Felt like I wasted so much time and energy.