I went through every round of the interview process, including a ride-along that lasted about half a day. The sales manager and I immediately hit it off, and I got along extremely well with the rest of the team. During the ride-along, I was actively engaged. I even suggested businesses for the sales rep to stop at and helped generate a sale on the spot. Everyone was responsive, welcoming, and seemed genuinely interested in me as a candidate. By the end of the ride-along, it truly felt like I had the job. The sales manager even mentioned they wanted me to meet with the VP as a formality, even though I had already met him briefly in passing.
I left expecting an offer letter.
I waited a week, then two, then three, then four. I followed up with the sales manager, someone I had built a strong rapport with during the process, and received no response. I was completely ghosted. It was, without a doubt, one of the most unprofessional experiences I have ever had.
At the very least, I deserved the courtesy of being told they decided to go in another direction and why. I invested hours into this process, including completing the ride-along, only to be ignored entirely.
It is disappointing that individuals who consider themselves professionals conduct business this way. Candidates are real people with lives, time commitments, and emotions. To ghost someone who was not only excited about the opportunity but also led to believe they had the job is unacceptable.
Shame on the management team for allowing this type of interview environment.