Interviews with the directors went smoothly and they told me that prior knowledge in the field is not required at all as they will be training graduates. When I made it to the partner interview, it was also the same. I then got a call a week later by HR telling me that I have passed all the stages and that everyone up to the partner liked me BUT I was not offered the job. When I probed further, the first reason was that the other candidate had 'prior experience'. I then told her that I was told by the very people who were hiring me said that it wasn't required. Immediately, she changed her story to say that the other candidate performed better than I did on all the other stages. I then asked her if I could be offered another position within the same department (this is where it got really dodgy). She (HR) then said to me that although I have passed all the stages doesn't mean that I will get the job (Then what's the point of investing so much time and effort and not to mention, money to travel for the interviews in passing ALL the stages when I'm coming out it empty-handed?!) She then had the cheek to tell me that if I am to be considered for the same role again, I'll have to start the application from scratch! (Didn't I already prove myself to be the candidate that they're looking for?) To say that I am very disappointed is an understatement because I got everything right and having passed every stage only to be rejected. I know it's their prerogative to hire whoever they want and I am NOT going to play the race card here. It just comes to show that 'People are at the heart of everything that we do' isn't always the reality, at least with RSM.