What started as an exciting opportunity turned into one of the most disappointing professional experiences I have ever had.
A recruiter from Main Event reached out and was incredibly kind and welcoming. Our initial conversation went great, and I genuinely felt like this could be a great fit. The very next day, I had a panel interview with the GM, Regional Sales Director, and Regional Operations Director. It went well and everyone was warm and engaged.
Shortly after, I was told I was moving to the final stage: a full sales presentation. I was asked to put together a detailed strategy on key accounts, partnerships, goals, and tactics—essentially, a roadmap to success. I delivered this via Teams to the Director of Sales, the GM, and the Regional Director. I had been prepped that the DOS might try to throw me off during the presentation, but I stayed composed, confident, and on track. Everyone smiled, nodded, and gave every indication that I was a strong contender. I followed up with the recruiter and I was told to expect an offer letter by midweek the following week,
Then... silence.
I followed up Wednesday morning and got an email from Recruiter saying the company had decided to move forward with other candidates. No call. No conversation. Just rejection after giving them a full strategic presentation—for free. I reached out again asking for feedback, hoping to at least learn something from the process, and was told they had nothing to share. No practical feedback.
To say I felt used is an understatement.
I poured hours of thought, energy, and professional experience into something that felt like a sincere opportunity. To not even receive a phone call or any thoughtful feedback after going through multiple rounds and being told an offer was on the way? That’s not just unprofessional, it’s disrespectful.
If this is how they treat people during the interview process, I can only imagine how they treat their team. In hindsight, I’m grateful I wasn’t offered the job. I value transparency, integrity, and basic human decency, qualities that were sorely missing by the end of this experience.