I applied on 8/29/24 and the Mars Assistant Recruiter emailed back a few days later on 9/4/24 to schedule my initial interview with HR. The initial interview was a 30 min phone screen. A week later I was contacted by the Talent Acquisition Coordinator to come onsite for a panel interview (West Chicago). The panel interview was with the hiring manager and another member of the team which they utilized the competencies decision quality, interpersonal savvy, action oriented, and manages complexity, to ask their questions. The interview for me was difficult as it had been my first interview in person in a long time and it was hard for me to gauge if my answers to their questions was sufficient. It was unfortunate to hear that they typically promoted internally to fill positions which meant that anyone external would most likely not be considered, making it hard to even get into the company. After the onsite I never heard back and was ghosted. It was clear I did not get the position as I later say it reposted on LinkedIn. This lack of communication is unprofessional and disheartening, especially considering the time candidates invest in the process. I recommend the company establish clear follow-up practices to ensure candidates are kept informed, even if they are not selected. Transparency goes a long way in maintaining a positive employer brand.