I interviewed for this role twice, once in 2023 and recently in 2024. There are multiple stages to the interview: the initial application, a timed one-hour written exercise, a telephone interview, and an hour-long panel interview. I made it to the final stage in 2023, and missed out to another candidate. I was offered verbal feedback from the hiring manager, who actually said he didn't have any feedback other than positive things as he thought I interviewed well, but they were in a spot where they needed someone with a specific bit of experience, which the other candidate had. He added that 'had you applied a couple months ago, when we were hiring, I would definitely have hired you.' He then strongly encouraged me to apply again when another vacancy came up. A vacancy came up in April 2024. I applied and informed the same hiring manager. He responded quickly and I was invited to complete the written stage, followed then by a phone interview. I was told during the phone interview about how 'strong' the pool of candidates was and he talked about how many people he had to interview and how they "all blur into one." I was encouraged to send my answers in writing as well (extra work) which I did. A week later I received a phone call inviting me to a panel interview. I will add that they do provide the questions beforehand (though there are follow-ups - sometimes multiple - to each question that you do not get beforehand) which is useful. However, they are quite tough questions. I attended the panel interview, which went well but did involve some complaining about Scope and their process and how 'sluggish' their hiring system is. The follow-ups were also worded in a convoluted way that made them particularly difficult to unpick. 5 days later I received an email saying I had been unsuccessful again. It was quite devastating and really impacted my mental health after a gruelling hiring process. I was hopeful as I had been encouraged to apply again after narrowly missing out last time (and being specifically told I was someone they'd hire and that my interview was essentially perfect). I could not believe they had encouraged me to apply again, dragged me through this process (as a disability charity, knowing I am disabled and neurodiverse) only to reject me again. The hiring manager had the gall to encourage me to apply again and offer feedback. I responded honestly and asked for some specific, honest feedback. However, what I received back was a vague response with no useful constructive criticism that I could take into any future interview processes and a frankly insulting and patronising speech about how he understood my frustration and was grateful for my understanding. As a disability charity, this hiring process is not a good look. This is further highlighted by the team complaining about Scope's processes during interviews with candidates. The hiring manager should not have told me to apply again or given me false hope, he is in a position where he works with vulnerable adults so should have been more aware of this. If what he says to me is something he says to everyone who gets to the final stage, he should have a really long, hard think about the impact of doing this. Candidates value honesty and constructive criticism over false platitudes. Why did he so strongly encourage me to apply again? Why put me through this entire process that I put so much effort and time into? It's cruel. I won't be applying again and I would discourage future candidates from applying.