I recently underwent a one-hour technical interview covering various aspects of full-stack web development, and I successfully cleared the round. Subsequently, I was invited for a managerial round lasting over two hours, during which I proposed a salary expectation of 2.5 LPA, considering my status as a well-informed fresher in the field. After a week, I proactively reached out to inquire about the status of my application. During this conversation, they conveyed that I had successfully passed all interview stages and was selected for the position. However, due to constraints on the total employee count, which was capped at 100, the company had reached its capacity by the time they concluded the hiring process. At the start of the interviews, the company had 98 employees, and within a week, it had reached its limit. They explained that the current workload and future projects were meticulously planned to ensure smooth operations and timely salary payments, leaving no room for additional hires at that moment. Despite expressing interest in having me on board, they conveyed that they would be unable to extend an offer at that time. Given this situation, I sought guidance on whether to wait for a potential offer or to explore other opportunities by attending interviews elsewhere. They advised me to consider attending other interviews and assured me that they would reach out when another opening aligned with my profile. Upon reflection, it appears that the company may have opted for a candidate with a referral, possibly someone willing to accept a lower salary. While I appreciate the transparency in their communication, I cannot help but wonder if the entirety of the managerial interview process was somewhat pre-determined, potentially influenced by internal referrals and salary considerations.