Pros: Interview prep materials were detailed and sent well ahead of each stage. The AI-assisted coding round was a genuinely interesting format. Cons: The process took roughly two and a half months end-to-end, across seven separate touchpoints: a recruiter screen, an informal chat with an engineering lead, two technical interviews, a three-competency final loop crammed into one almost-three-hour session with a single 15-minute break, an additional vibe check with someone more senior, and a couple of feedback calls. After the final loop, communication went quiet. I had to follow up twice over the following fortnight before getting any answer. After all that time investment, unpaid and unsupported by any interim feedback, the outcome was a generic "closer match" rejection. Advice to Management: Consider consolidating the number of discrete interview stages, or at minimum be upfront about the likely timeline so candidates can plan around it. If a decision date slips, a proactive heads-up beats making candidates chase twice for a status update.