I had an HR interview which went well. 6 days later I got an email that the position is cancelled and they were no longer hiring for the role. I would have appreciated more transparency in the job posting, something like: "Please be aware that this position is subject to potential changes based on evolving business circumstances. There is a possibility that the role may not move forward as initially planned." Adding such a notice to the job posting would set the right expectations for the candidates to avoid disappointing or misleading them. Applying to a position and staring with the interviewing steps is quite time consuming on the candidate's side and by knowing that the position may not even exist, the candidate can decide whether they would still want to go through with it at their own risk, or invest their time and energy somewhere else.

First, a home assignment, then an interview with the engineering manager, followed by one with the VP of Engineering. I enjoyed the test assignment and conversations with the team. Everyone was relaxed and friendly. Unfortunately, despite progressing through all the steps successfully and engaging in some salary negotiations, I received an email indicating that the company has paused hiring for that role.