I submitted my application for the MEL Lead position, confidently believing that my qualifications and experience align well with the requirements of the role. Shortly after my submission, I was contacted by a recruiter and had a productive discussion with him. Subsequent to that conversation, I had an interview with two people, one from Path and another from a partner organization. In the week following, the recruiter informed me that they wanted to have an additional interview with a different panel within a 24-hour notice period. Despite being in transit at the time, I managed to schedule and complete this interview. Concurrently, I was requested to provide professional references from four previous colleagues or supervisors. It was my understanding that the request for references was an indication that the organization was seriously considering my candidacy. After completing the additional panel interview and submitting the requested references, I have not received any further communication from the organization for over a month. It was through an external source that I learned that the position had been offered to another candidate.