Caution: Here Be Ghosts
I was referred by an employee for the position, and a preliminary phone interview was scheduled. That went pleasantly enough, so I was referred to the person coordinating the interview process for a second interview.
That too went well enough for the interviewer to ask if I wanted to continue the process, and I said yes. She then confirmed that I was OK with the salary range (I was), and told me to prepare a presentation of case histories, and the sequence of interviews with senior execs I would go through. She told me which date range to be prepared to present and interview, and that she would contact me within a few days with the specific dates and times for each appointment.
Then nothing. I waited another week after the specified time to follow up, and was told there were many people interviewing before me, so that it was unlikely I would be considered.
While of course I was disappointed not to make the cut, I understand that’s their choice. It was also their choice to tell me to spend time preparing a presentation, researching the people I would be interviewing, and promise to follow up with a schedule, and then not be granted the basic courtesy of being told not to bother.
I’d chalk it up to an oversight, but then they did the exact same thing in 2018 when I applied for a similar position: met in person, asked me to come back to meet more people with a capabilities presentation, and then complete lack of response when I tried to schedule it.
There’s no need for this consistent lack of professionalism. Applicants beware.