Airlink (US) interview questions

I applied in June and had five interviews over the following months. The final interview involved an in-person presentation (which took hours to create) followed by an hour-long discussion. They got back in touch to say they were having a hard time "texting" my references, which was a major red flag since most people I know use text for personal matters, not work. I suggested they email my references as is standard in these situations. On September 20, I was told the process had been put on hold. That was the last I heard from Airlink. I only learned the position had been filled by seeing the new staff member added to their website. I don't know how much time I devoted to this hiring process, but it's safe to say it was over 20 hours, including the time needed to create the presentation. Throughout the process, they asked questions that put me in the uncomfortable situation of possibly compromising some sensitive information from a previous job. They also made me come into their office on the hottest, muggiest day of the year when I could have presented just as effectively over Zoom. And worse, the guidelines they provided for the presentation were incredibly vague. It felt like they were making things up as they went along. Advice for Airlink: -Think about the human being on the other side of the hiring process. I am incredibly disappointed to have poured so much time and energy into the process only to be ghosted. I deserved a thank you for my efforts (at the very least). -This position manages another person. Why were they not part of the process? -Specify the references you'll need upfront so candidates don't have to scramble to find them, particularly during a time when many are traveling. Be more flexible about the references you accept. It's very common for people to not want to use certain managers from their past. Accept this and don't let one bad manager's actions undermine a candidate's ability to work in the future. -Respect confidentiality clauses. My last job carried with it sensitive information. I shouldn't be put in a position to divulge things I am legally obligated to keep private. -Consolidate the steps. Five rounds were not necessary. If you need that many rounds of interviews, consider asking better questions in the future. -Think about the time you make people devote to skills assessments. That project took me away from paid freelance work I could have been doing. -Don't start calling references until you have the ones you think you need. You just wasted the goodwill of one of my best references who certainly will have less time and bandwidth to speak with the next person who calls them on my behalf. -Consider the impact on your brand. I had an ok opinion of Airlink before this, now I have a poor impression and have unfollowed you on all social media feeds. In all, this was a very disappointing experience. Do better, please.