Generally a great experience up until the final (4th) interview. I was moved quickly through the first 3 and received consistently positive and enthusiastic feedback throughout. So, as others have mentioned, the rejection came as a surprise. For the 4th interview (a portfolio review) the vibe was noticeably different from the earlier rounds. I initially chalked it up to the format, since presentations tend to be less interactive, and that could have been part of it. The lineup of interviewers also changed last minute, and overall it just didn’t feel as warm or engaging. They had very few comments or questions for me. The rejection email was generic apart from one sentence saying my storytelling and presentation weren’t what the team was looking for. While I can agree it probably wasn’t my strongest presentation (I’d been sick the week leading up to it, and probably should have just rescheduled), it certainly wasn’t my worst. This was a mid-level design role, so I'm curious about how high they've set the bar. Especially since I was extended an offer for a principal-level role at a more established company a few days later, making the outcome with Bestow all the more strange. I believe that after 3 interviews, a team should have a clear sense of whether someone is a good fit. If things shift significantly after a 4th interview, it would be helpful, and respectful of the candidate’s time and energy, to offer more specific feedback about why. It’s also worth noting that the original listing I applied to had been up for around two months, and after my rejection, it was reposted. It seems they may interview on a rolling basis, regardless of whether they’re actively hiring. All that said, I really appreciated how efficient and warm the first 3 interviews were. Everyone I spoke with was thoughtful and engaging, which made me even more excited about the opportunity. The design challenge was also handled exceptionally well. Rather than a take-home, it was a collaborative co-design session with a staff-level designer. The prompt was unrelated to their product, which eliminated any concern about unpaid work and kept the focus on collaboration and problem-solving.