Deceptive.
My phone screen revealed that the Lead job for which I applied was no longer available. I confirmed with the recruiter that I was not interested in the Senior Associate job.
Surprisingly, an hour later, I was invited to urgently come meet the team and clarfied that it was for the Lead role. I took time off of my current job and participated in a small group interview focused on hiring Senior Associates 2 days later. When it ended, I again clarified that I was interviewing for a Lead position and was told these weren't available, but would I be intereted in the Senior Associate job. Confused, I emailed the recruiter and here is her response, "I think things changed quickly. Understand you are not interested in the Sr. Associate level, and the Lead role just isn't the right fit. They are aiming to promote internally for those roles and believe they are now filled."
I believe they brought me in to try and convenice me to take the Senior Associate job. If they were promoting from within, why did they bring me in the first place? What a waste of my time and how incredibly disrespectful.