I would like to express my disappointment regarding the recruitment process. I received a call from the HR team on a Sunday regarding an urgent opening. After sharing my resume and details, my initial HR discussion was conducted, during which I clearly communicated my expected CTC (ECTC). The senior HR representative informed me that approval would be required before proceeding with further interview rounds. A few days later, I was informed that the approval had been obtained, and my Level 1 interview was scheduled. After successfully clearing that round, I was asked to attend a face-to-face interview at the office. I traveled approximately 1,300 kilometers at my own expense solely to attend the interview, which I also cleared successfully. However, after nearly 10 days, I was informed by HR that the company did not have the budget to meet my expected compensation and that I should consider opportunities elsewhere. My concern is that my expected CTC was discussed and known from the very beginning of the process. If there were budget constraints, why were multiple interview rounds conducted, and why was I asked to travel such a long distance at my own expense? This resulted in a significant investment of my time, effort, and money. I believe compensation alignment should have been confirmed before proceeding with advanced interview stages, especially before requiring a candidate to travel for an in-person interview.