The process so far has taken close to five months - at this point I assume the role is no longer open (or was ever open). First recruiter (R1) was great, she took my application and saw a fit for an alternative role and passed me through to a new recruiter (R2). R2 provided me with an Excel based test and project via e-mail. The project mainly included fixing/building out a compensation calculator and providing analysis based on several questions; took several hours to fully complete. I was informed I successfully completed the test, however, the hiring team were busy with year-end processes. I followed-up on a bi-weekly basis and after receiving few responses, I did some investigating and R2 was no longer with the company. I reached out to R1 for advice who kindly put me in contact with a new recruiter (R3). R3 asked me to re-send my project, to which I was told I had passed (again), and then she explained the hiring team were waiting on budget considerations. At least another month or so went by with me being put in a holding position and at this point I have decided to not follow-up further. It seems disrespectful and a bad candidate experience to never have the opportunity to speak to anyone (even over the phone) about the role despite having me spend several hours diligently successfully complete a project test.