I recently completed a four-stage interview process with this company. I enjoyed meeting the Head of Design—he was fantastic, and I was genuinely excited about the chance to work under his guidance. The discussions with the CTO and Product Manager were also engaging and insightful. During the second round, I was given a take-home assignment. Although take-home tasks are often seen as a big ask for candidates, I took it on with enthusiasm, especially as I'm transitioning into Product Design after seven years in a related design field. I applied because the job posting mentioned 1-5 years’ experience, which I felt aligned well with my background. After two months of interviews, I reached the final round with the founders, and I felt the conversation went well. I was a bit surprised when they informed me afterward that they chose someone with more experience, given that my background was clear from the second round. While I understand the decision, I had become quite invested in the opportunity and was looking forward to joining the team.