I was approached by a recruiter who was very professional—providing regular updates, notifying me about each stage of the process, and following up at least once a week. I had three interviews after the initial screening—two with the hiring manager and one with the head of product. Both were highly professional and great to speak with. The interviews went very well.
In the end, I was informed that I was identified as a great candidate, and both the hiring manager and the head of product really liked me, but they did not receive funding for the role. I thought there might be another opportunity in the foreseeable future, so I decided to stay connected with the recruiter and interviewers on LinkedIn.
Shortly after, I saw on LinkedIn that the recruiter—one of the best I had the chance to communicate with—was laid off. Soon after, the head of product, a person with outstanding tech and leadership skills, was also let go.
Looking back, I feel fortunate that I didn’t get the job as it seems this company doesn't truly value talent.