The interview process lasted over three months. While I was genuinely excited about the company and its work, I found the overall experience somewhat disappointing. I participated in four interviews with six different individuals, including panels with multiple people. Most of the interviews went well, and the interviewers were friendly. The COO was very professional and thorough, but her line of questioning was highly specific, which made the interview challenging. Since this was the first role of its kind in the U.S., neither the company nor I had a clear precedent to base my answers on, which added to the difficulty. Throughout the process, I maintained regular communication with the designated hiring manager regarding the role. However, after the estimated start date passed in the new year, I contacted the People Team lead and learned that the position had been offered to another candidate. I did not receive any follow-up communication or acknowledgment thanking me for my time and effort in applying and interviewing.