The process started with a phone call with HR, followed by a virtual first round with the hiring manager. The hiring manager was genuinely good. Smart, polite, and focused on relevant questions. No personal or unnecessary stuff, just a proper conversation about the role and skills.
After that, I was asked to complete an assignment, which took a fair amount of time to do properly.
Once the assignment was submitted, communication completely stopped. No feedback, no update, no rejection. Just silence.
It is a shame, because the hiring manager made a very positive impression. The experience was let down by the lack of follow-up from HR. Scheduling meetings is only one part of the job, and basic communication with candidates should not be optional. Even a short update would have made a big difference.