The interview process began with a straightforward phone screening with HR, followed by a 45-minute conversation with the hiring manager the next week. I entered the process fairly late, but both HR and the hiring manager expressed strong interest in my background and seemed enthusiastic throughout. They mentioned they were interviewing two other finalists, and the interviews themselves were relatively easy—more conversational than technical. The team is currently just one person (the hiring manager), so this role would have been a direct support/expansion hire. In the end, the company didn’t extend an offer to anyone. Based on my experience, it seemed less about candidate quality and more about the hiring manager being extremely selective; I’m confident that any of the three finalists could have performed well in the position. The process was professional and communicative, but ultimately inconclusive.