I went in for an initial interview for a different role a few months ago. I was interviewed by the current coordinator as well as two VPs who needed the support. HR called my references. Then they emailed me and said I was the first choice, but my "salary requirements were not in line with the position." A few months later, unprompted, HR reached out to see if I might be interested in a similar role in the same department, now on the proper pay scale. I went in and met with the same coordinator, and now the EVP of the department. I waited more than an hour for the EVP, who profusely apologized for wasting my time during the LAST interview process. He even called his coordinator in and had a lengthy back and forth about what had happened internally during the previous process that had left me out to dry. It was awkward for me, and even more awkward for her trying to answer her boss but also avoid explaining in vivid detail what had happened to me sitting in the room. I deflected his apologies, saying I'm here now, etc. He told me again I was the first choice for the other job, and after a 45 minute conversation he asked me to come meet the rest of the team a week later, which I organized promptly with HR. The day of the follow-up interview I got another HR email. "I'm so sorry, we have to cancel today's interview. I will let you know if we need to reschedule." So after two interviews, it seems like they literally cannot figure out what's going on...to the point of calling my references and now wasting my time twice. I won't be accepting apologies from anyone for this second round of confusion. Especially not when the email canceling the meeting was so completely dismissive.