Honestly, the process started out great. I applied via LinkedIn. Within an hour, I had an email from the Human Resources Leader. He wanted to set up a time for us to video chat. We did that essentially the next day. After that chat, he wanted me to speak to several other people. The following day, I interviewed with the Quality Manager and Engineering Manager on video. The day after that, I interviewed with their 2 Directors of Business Development. This was all in the span of a few days. I was told that there should be more interviews happening, but nothing definite.
I was then contacted again by the Human Resources Leader, who told me that in order to put my best foot forward and to prove I could do the job, I should add more 3D work to my portfolio. Because I didn't have any I could legally show from my current and past jobs, I actually modeled and textured 2 pieces that night, one of which was a product this company makes, and let him know.
A week and half went by with no contact, so I reached out. I was told that they had 2 other candidates and were going to have a decision by the end of that week. He said he would be in touch soon.
It's now been over 2 months since that email. I have sent several follow up emails asking for an update and have heard nothing. I recently saw they started promoting the same position on LinkedIn and other job boards again, and assumed I was out of the running, which is fine.
My problem isn't that I wasn't the right person for the job. My problem is this increasingly popular practice where a candidate for a position is "ghosted". I don't expect detailed feedback anymore, but even a "We haven't found the right person and want to continue looking" is more than sufficient to help me continue to move on in my job search. But to completely stop replying to emails is unacceptable. Especially after being so communicative at the start.
I have to imagine that if this is how they treat potential employees, I might have dodged a bullet.
EDIT: I wanted to add something that happened essentially right after this review was approved. The same Human Resources Leader contacted me telling me that though it had been a couple months, they hadn't filled the position, but that they had a critical presentation coming up that they needed graphic support on. He asked if I would be interested in coming on in a contract capacity to help them. He also noted how good it would look for me and how it would be a "great way to demonstrate your work with the team – including our CEO".
I mulled it over for a bit, and ultimately decided that I wouldn't be opposed to having a discussion. I sent him back an email that night saying I would have time the next day to get on a call to discuss. He confirmed early that morning for a mid-afternoon call. I told him to let me know the medium for the which call would be (phone, Zoom, etc.)
I bet you can see where this is going. That call never happened. The agreed-upon time rolled by. Now it's been a week of not hearing from him again. I learned my lesson. Stay as far away from this company and the way it treats it's potential employees. It's highly unprofessional.