They conducted three rounds of interviews: one virtual and two face-to-face, with the project manager and the CTO of the company, respectively. I successfully cleared all rounds, and each time, I communicated my expected CTC. However, despite their agreement during the interviews, the HR representatives consistently offered a salary below my expectations. This was particularly disappointing given that even average freshers were reportedly receiving better compensation than someone with 2.5 years of experience. From this experience, I learned the importance of clarifying the company's budget for someone with my level of experience before proceeding with multiple interviews. It's essential to ensure alignment on salary expectations from the outset to avoid investing time and effort in a process that may not yield a satisfactory outcome. My advice to others would be to inquire about the company's budget for the position before committing to interviews, thereby avoiding potential disappointment and wasted time.