At first sight the interview process went well, with a first screening meeting followed by two interviews with the hiring manager, with a case presentation. I invested a significant amount of time and expertise into this case study, confident it showcased my skills and fit for the role. Despite receiving very positive feedback on the presentation itself, I was notified just hours later that the position was already "filled." It became clear that the company may be using the interview process to gather ideas and insights from candidates without the genuine intention of hiring for the advertised role.