The recruiter was friendly, empathetic, and resourceful throughout the entire process. I went through a four-stage interview process spanning nearly two months (Feb – Mar 2026). Although the company approached the initial interviews with a strong sense of urgency, I was left waiting for three months (March – June 2026) after the final round, only to receive a generic email stating the role had been put on hold. When asked about my salary expectations, I inquired about their budget. They admitted they weren't sure yet and simply wanted to hear candidate numbers first. In hindsight, interviewing for a role without an approved budget was a clear sign of internal misalignment.