The process started well with an interview with the hiring manager, followed by a panel with four people. After that, things became very slow and communication dropped off. Timelines were set but rarely met, and updates only came when I chased. The hiring manager called me several times to say they were shaping a role specifically around my experience. I even reviewed and approved the job spec myself. I was later told they had to put it out to open applications but just as a formality, as the intention was it would be my role. In the end, after five months and no communication between early December and the final update at the end of January, I was told they went with someone with stronger experience. The whole experience took a real toll. The long stretches of silence, shifting expectations, repeated reassurances and flattery from the hiring manager that I was perfect, had the best CV he'd ever seen and he really liked me made the eventual outcome much harder to process. Clearer communication, a more streamlined process, and more realistic expectations from the hiring team would have made a big difference.