A recruiter reached out to me via LinkedIn. I wasn’t familiar with the company initially, but after doing my own research, I became genuinely interested in the organization, the role, and its mission. I wasn’t provided a job description directly and had to locate it on the company website myself. I completed a standard 30-minute phone interview with the same recruiter, which I felt went well. I was told I would hear back within one to two business days after she connected with the hiring manager. Unfortunately, that expectation wasn’t met. Instead, I received a generic rejection email over the weekend—earlier than the stated timeline—with no feedback, no personalization, and no signature. What was most disappointing was the lack of follow-through and transparency. Candidate experience starts with the very first interaction, and setting clear expectations—and honoring them—matters. Given that the company’s mission emphasizes mental health, the impersonal nature of the communication was surprising. I may not have advanced in the process, but respectful and timely communication goes a long way. Based on other reviews, this doesn’t seem to be an isolated experience. I wish the organization continued success, but hope they invest more in improving their candidate experience.