I recently went through the interview process with Anthropic, including a recruiter screen and a conversation with the hiring manager. Both conversations were engaging and thoughtful, and I came away genuinely interested in the role and the company’s mission. Unfortunately, after completing those steps, communication stopped. I followed up with the recruiter a couple of times and did not receive a response or closure. I understand that recruiting teams are busy and that this type of experience has become increasingly common across the industry. That said, it shouldn’t be normalized, especially for companies that pride themselves on high standards, operational rigor, and human-centered values. The recruitment process is not just a hiring funnel; it’s an extension of the company’s talent pipeline and brand experience. How candidates are treated reflects how the organization thinks about systems, accountability, and communication. Even a brief update or formal rejection would have demonstrated respect for candidates’ time and effort.