I applied online and heard back fairly quickly. I spoke with Melissa Shaheen, the Director of Recruiting, who came across as very bubbly, friendly, and clearly passionate about both her role and McKinney. I went through a few interview rounds, including their head of strategy, that seemed to go well. Ultimately, they decided to move forward with someone who had a bit more experience, which I understood given this was a reach position for me. However, a few specific comments—particularly, "Next time we have an open position, you’ll be our first call!"—gave me the impression that I had established a meaningful connection. When I never heard back from them, it made those relationships feel a bit disingenuous and left a sour taste.