7 rounds of interviews, with a case study solving a live problem. Confirmed that I cleared all the rounds, got me to give them 2 references. Then suddenly went quiet, and came back saying they gave the offer to someone who took the role at a more junior position

I went through four rounds of interviews for a Product role at Deel. The process started well and was well-structured at first, but the experience deteriorated over time. After investing significant time preparing and presenting a detailed case study (which was described as “excellent”), I still had to constantly follow up to move to the next steps. The final interview suffered from technical issues, poor communication and the interviewer in a noisy environment, which made it feel rushed and unprofessional. What stood out the most, however, was the complete lack of respect for candidates’ time. Despite committing to provide a decision by a specific date (after I mentioned having another offer), the recruiting team simply went silent. I had to chase for updates several times, and even after being rejected, no actual feedback was provided, just a generic message and empty promises to follow up that were never fulfilled. It’s disappointing to see a company that promotes a “remote-first” and “people-first” culture treat candidates this way. The process felt one-sided, with little regard for the time and effort candidates invest.