The first interview was an easy 30-minute video call, scheduled after recruiter outreach via email. Chat went well with the hiring manager, and we covered previous experience and translatable skills to the challenges ahead.

I had an initial phone screening, at the end of which the recruiter said I was one of 3 candidates the hiring manager was interested in setting up a Zoom interview with. After that initial screening, I was completely ghosted. It was so strange, and I was honestly worried that I had somehow been scammed.