I would like to share my recent interview experience with Ernst & Young (EY) (Trivandrum), as it may help others set clear expectations before attending. I initially received an email invitation from HR for a walk-in drive. The process consisted of three rounds: • Round 1 (Technical): Java and Selenium-based questions • Round 2 (Technical): Playwright (including mocking and API testing concepts) • Round 3 (HR): Discussion on CTC, experience, and compensation expectations, followed by a request to fill in detailed candidate information Up to this point, the process appeared structured. However, there was no communication from HR for the next two days after completing all rounds. After nearly three weeks, I was contacted by HR (Ravi Ranjan) and informed that my expected salary could not be met, and I was asked whether the process should be dropped. Since I am genuinely interested in the organization, I asked for the maximum compensation they could offer. After a brief hold, I was offered a figure that was significantly lower than my current salary. This raises serious concerns about transparency and intent in the hiring process. It appears that candidates are being progressed through multiple rounds without realistic alignment on compensation, potentially to showcase active hiring efforts rather than to onboard suitable candidates. I have also observed a similar experience shared by another candidate who attended a walk-in drive at EY Trivandrum, involving the same HR representative, which suggests this may not be an isolated case. While I respect Ernst & Young (EY) as an organization, I strongly believe that candidates’ time, effort, and expectations deserve better clarity and honesty. For those planning to attend interviews with EY Trivandrum, I strongly recommend discussing compensation alignment upfront before proceeding through multiple rounds.