Earlier this year, I interviewed for a role at Commerce Bank but came up short. When I saw the position reposted in July, I applied again — then heard nothing for over a month. In mid-August, the recruiter reached out to invite me straight to the final interview, skipping earlier stages since I’d already gone through them. I appreciated that shortcut — but I wish they’d told me sooner instead of leaving my emails unanswered. The final interview went fine. A week later, I was told I’d hear back when there was an update. Instead, I received the same generic rejection email you’d expect from an ATS auto-filter — the kind you get when you haven’t even spoken to anyone. I understand not every candidate can get a personal call. But when someone has invested hours in multiple interview rounds, a short, human follow-up goes a long way. It’s not just about courtesy — it’s about leaving the door open for future interest. Candidate experience matters. Professional, timely, and respectful communication can make the difference between someone reapplying in the future… or walking away for good.