I recently interviewed for the VP of Product role at Vahan.ai, and the experience was a mix of positivity and disappointment. I had an exploratory round with the CEO, during which we discussed various product management strategies, my past achievements, and how I would align my expertise with Vahan.ai’s goals. Although I believed I had shown my strengths and thought I might progress to the next stage, I later learned that they chose candidates who were already further along in the interview process. This decision was disappointing, as it felt as though the hiring team wasn’t fully considering the effort and time it takes for new candidates to prepare and attend interviews. Being evaluated alongside candidates in a more advanced round added an element of frustration, as it felt as though the outcome was predetermined. It’s essential for hiring teams to understand that bringing in new candidates only to prioritize those already shortlisted can impact candidates' perception of the company’s hiring approach.