A while ago, I submitted an application for a communications position. The Director of Community Engagement reached out requesting a 30-minute phone screen for the following day. The screening went well - the person I spoke with was pleasant, kind, and conversational. About a week later, I was asked to come for an in-person interview. I went into the office a few days later to meet the Director of Community Engagement and another employee. Again, I thought the interview went well and both were very welcoming.
A few days after my first in-person interview, I was asked to come in again to meet with the Executive Director. We scheduled something for a little over a week later. I met with her and it seemed to go well. I was emailed shortly after to submit a writing sample and take a Predictive Index quiz (basically an office compatibility test). I submitted my writing samples later that evening, but there was a delay in getting me access to the test. The Director of Community Engagement emailed me 13 days later to inform me that they were running a little behind and that she would try and move things along - which I appreciated and understood. After three more days, I still hadn't received anything and followed up. The DCE promptly responded that she, again, would try and move things along. 17 days later and still no updates, I emailed again only to be told "they decided to go in a different direction" and that "I was no longer a final candidate."
This was by far the worst and most disrespectful interview process I have ever experienced. I understand that not everyone gets that job and sometimes the prospective applicant will have to go on multiple interviews to ultimately be rejected. That said, that does not mean the prospective employer has license to be careless with applicants' time and energy. To have interviewed three times, physically gone in twice, and submitted writing samples - only to be strung along is not right. Had I not sent that final follow up email, it is likely that they would have straight up ghosted me.
