My experience with the interview process was confusing and disappointing. HR initially responded to my message asking for my availability for an in-person interview, which gave me the impression that I would be moving forward to that stage. Instead, I was later forwarded to other team members and given an assessment test without clear instructions, expectations, evaluation criteria, or a deadline. The assessment was presented with very little guidance, which made it feel like a “figure it out” situation. However, I was then penalized for taking a different approach than what the reviewer apparently expected. If a company has a specific method or standard they want candidates to follow, that should be clearly communicated beforehand. What made the experience more frustrating was the lack of alignment between HR and the person administering the assessment. I was left unsure whether the in-person interview mentioned by HR was still part of the process or whether the assessment had replaced it entirely. The final rejection email also felt brief and dismissive considering the time and effort put into the assessment. Overall, I would encourage the company to improve communication, provide clearer expectations for assessment tests, and make sure candidates understand the actual interview process before asking them to complete technical evaluations.