I applied for a Senior Program Manager position and had a positive start to the interview process. The initial phone screening went smoothly, followed by an engaging conversation with the hiring manager that lasted twice as long as scheduled. This gave me the impression that there was genuine interest in my experience and alignment with the role. Three days later, I received confirmation for a panel interview scheduled a week out, along with a reminder the day before. However, just hours before the panel interview, I received a cancellation email stating that they had decided to go with another candidate. The message was polite but generic, with little explanation despite the investment of time on both sides. Overall, the lack of communication and abrupt cancellation so close to the interview was disappointing. I hope the company refines its process to provide more timely and considerate updates to candidates.