I applied to a similar job years ago and did not get it. I applied again when I saw this opening since I had a connection to the organization and thought that might help. I applied in June 2023 and had an interview the following month for screening purposes with an employee who was very nice and professional when we spoke. In September, I received an email stating the position had been put on hold. Due to previous experiences elsewhere, I knew this is sometimes language for organizations who, for some reason can't quite say a candidate was being rejected and/or they can't discuss why the job is no longer being filled. I decided to interpret it in this way, especially with how long it took to get this update. In early December, I was contacted by someone else on the team, informing me that the hiring process had begun again and if I was interested in another interview. This was a pleasant surprise and I was curious to find out what happened in the meantime and whether I had a shot. The interview with the actual direct team member was also very nice, with a conversation ranging from my experiences, previous projects, what I could bring to the organizations, that the position had been put on hold to hire for the person who would be supervising this role (great to know, appreciate the honesty but why make candidates interview in the first place). There was at least one other interview and a writing exercise in the process but given my history with MA and that there seems to be some sort of reorganization (or it's a disaster of a workplace? I honestly don't know) going on, I was wary. It happens, and I gathered there have been some changes so it was "wait and see." I got a rejection late in the evening on New Years Eve 2023. It is fully understandable that hiring during the holidays can be a hassle, that it can be difficult to send a rejection around Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. And while there is also the "schedule ahead" feature for emails now, there is also a possibility the employee who sent the email was actually working through the holiday, or at least on NYE. Again, I fully respect the organization may be undergoing some changes and that the hiring decision may have happened before Christmas, and I really enjoyed everyone I interacted with, etc. but when looking at my experiences in conjunction with the other interview experience posted as of my review, it sounds like it worked out for the best. I wish the organization well, will be curious to see its future work but it also seems like it may be genuinely disorganized.