I was informed there would be a total of 4 interview rounds. The 1st round was with HR to understand my experience, followed by a 2nd round with a Product Manager. The interview went really well, the interviewer was informative, receptive, and I was explicitly told that I had qualified for the next round with the Founder. However, after multiple follow-ups, I was informed that the position had been put on hold and that the team was exploring another suitable opening for me. After that, complete silence. Despite multiple calls, messages, and even emails, there was absolutely no response from the company. If a role is closed, on hold, or a candidate is no longer being considered, communicate it clearly. Candidates invest their time, energy, preparation, and emotions into these processes. The bare minimum is transparency and closure, even if the feedback is negative. Ghosting candidates after multiple rounds is extremely disappointing and unprofessional. Moral of the story: I was ghosted.