I was contacted by EI regarding an opportunity for an HR Lead position and was invited to interview. Before even speaking to the hiring team in depth, I was asked to complete an extensive assignment. It took me two full days to complete and resulted in a 14+ page document outlining detailed strategies and solutions. I invested this time because I genuinely believed the company was seriously considering my candidature. From my very first conversation with the Senior HR Manager, I was completely transparent about my background. I clearly stated that although I have over a decade of experience in communications, content, internal communications, employee engagement, and related functions, I had not formally worked within an HR department. I was explicitly assured that this was not a concern and that my transferable experience aligned well with what they were looking for. After completing the assignment, I travelled over 25 kilometres each way to attend the interview, incurring more than ₹1,200 in travel expenses and spending an entire day commuting. Unfortunately, the interview itself left me with the impression that the hiring team lacked clarity about the position they were recruiting for. Different interviewers appeared to have different expectations of the role, making it difficult to understand what the organisation was actually seeking. My interaction with the CHRO was particularly disappointing. During the discussion, comments were made questioning my ability to manage the commute based on my age and gender—remarks that I found inappropriate and unrelated to my professional capabilities. The conversation also reflected a rigid view of career progression, with little acknowledgement that many professionals experienced significant career disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than evaluating my experience, skills, and potential, the discussion seemed focused on outdated assumptions about what a career path should look like. The experience concluded on an equally disappointing note. Days passed without any communication, and I had to repeatedly contact the company myself for an update. Only after multiple follow-ups did the Senior HR Manager inform me that the organisation was uncertain about what they really want from the role and had decided to pause hiring while exploring other options. This entire process demonstrated a lack of preparation, respect for candidates' time, and professional communication. I invested two full days completing an extensive assignment, travelled more than 50 kilometres for interviews, incurred significant personal expenses, and committed valuable time during a period when both my time and financial resources mattered greatly to my family. Recruitment is a two-way process. Candidates are expected to invest considerable effort, but organisations have an equal responsibility to conduct hiring processes with clarity, transparency, and respect. My experience with EI fell well short of those standards. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend interviewing with this organisation unless candidates are prepared for a recruitment process that appears poorly defined and places little value on the time and effort applicants invest.