I applied through the company website and had a phone interview scheduled after reaching out to the hiring manager via email. During the interview, we discussed my industry experience and how I handle challenging situations in projects. The hiring manager shared the company's background and his own experience. The process was smooth, and my qualifications left a positive impression. However, a setback arose during salary negotiations, as HR proposed a figure significantly below industry standards, not aligning with my experience and education. Despite the promising interview, the discrepancy in salary expectations poses a challenge in moving forward.