I'm sharing feedback in order to inform UBC leadership and other candidates. After submitting my official application to an opening listed on an industry job board, I was contacted for a phone screen. The phone screen began the call with small talk and continued with a rather informal conversation. In discussing my background for the role, the screener suddenly said, "You're older." -- which was a shock to hear -- not "You're an experienced candidate.” -- but "older." In addition, the screener began discussing their own health and family (spouse, children) while asking questions like "You ever think to yourself man, I'm getting old?" -- referring to challenges with exercising -- clearly fishing for any responses and details about my health and family situation. I was even more surprised when the screener hinted at the politics of the state (Pennsylvania) – all of which is not germane to the hiring process and was prevalent throughout the call. As the call concluded I was informed that my application/resume would be forwarded without hesitation and I should expect to be contacted within a couple of days to schedule an interview with the hiring manager -- and if I didn't receive any contact from the hiring team, to reach back out. After the phone screen, I sent a professional thank you email and a subsequent follow-up email several days later asking if my application was still "on-track" -- without any simple acknowledgment. According to the screener, they would be on vacation the week after I sent my follow-up email - hence, I sent the email before the screener was scheduled to be OOO. Two weeks later, I received a response expressing: "I received an update that the team has decided to take a different direction with the role, and they thank you for taking the time to consider UBC." Meanwhile, this same position remains advertised on the same industry job board where I found the job posting.