I applied for the Media Analyst Resident role and attended their assessment centre. VaynerMedia promised travel reimbursements, something they highlighted clearly, but never followed through, even after multiple follow-ups. After investing time, money, and effort into preparing and traveling for the day, I was told I’d receive a response within a week. It’s been much longer, and I’ve been completely ghosted. No feedback, no update, just silence. For a company that preaches empathy and human-centered culture, this was the exact opposite. The culture at the assessment centre felt performative. It felt fake and superficial, with people trying to outtalk each other rather than genuinely collaborate. I came in hopeful and left disillusioned. VaynerMedia talks a lot about values, but they don’t walk the talk. Applicants deserve better than being used for free labour, ghosted, and ignored.