Recruiter reached out to me unsolicited to initiate the process and scheduled an initial phone screen to verify basic qualifications for the role. I interviewed for a Senior Product Manager position in October 2025. The process began with timely communication but later became disorganized. I completed multiple rounds, including with the CTO and the acting HR “leader,”
They were initially interviewing for a product role, and my fourth round was on October 10 with the hiring manager. Something felt off the following week, and after checking LinkedIn, I discovered the company had a major layoff on the same day as my interview. On October 13, instead of being transparent, they told me the role had been filled. Shortly afterward, they asked if I was open to interviewing for another product role starting in January, and I agreed.
From that point, scheduling became inconsistent and unresponsive. By this time, I already knew this wasn’t the kind of environment I wanted to work in, but I continued mainly to understand how to identify red flags in a company’s hiring process for the future. I’m currently employed, so it wasn’t a high-stakes situation for me, but I’m posting this review for others who may be in active job searches—your time is valuable, and it’s better spent on companies that are transparent and organized.
Late Friday evening, they confirmed my final interview for Monday at 9 a.m. I honestly didn’t expect them to follow through. I did end up speaking with both the CTO and HR. The CTO seemed knowledgeable and asked relevant questions, but something still felt off. The HR round was the worst part of the entire process—she offered no meaningful context, avoided questions with vague answers, and came across as inexperienced. Huge red flag.
They eventually came back with a final note on October 22 stating, “Our moving on with other candidates in no way represents our feelings about you as a person; we want to be sure this is the right fit for both sides.”
I had stated my compensation expectations upfront, so I suspect budget constraints were the real issue—but why waste candidates’ time if the role isn’t funded or approved?
