Smooth process moved at a great pace. Met with each level of management I was going to work with, Questions were fairly standard and less job specific and more cultural fit.

The process consisted of a phone screen, Zoom interview, in-person interview, and Excel test. This took place over the course of 2 months. After the in-person interview, I was told that I was a "finalist" and asked about my availability for the following week to do a second in-person interview along with a take-home assignment. And then: radio silence. For the next several weeks, I sent a polite email requesting an update. Still no communication. Clearly ELS either incorrectly identified me as a finalist or the company decided “to move in a different direction.” I realize that it’s increasingly acceptable behavior for companies and candidates to ghost one another. But to tell a candidate that they’re a finalist and outline final steps, and then go dark, is poor form. If TA/HR had just sent a one-sentence “our priorities have changed” email, then I would have rated the experience neutral and moved on. ELS: extend the courtesy of certainty and close the communication loop with your candidates.