Step 1: Conversation with an internal recruiter Step 2: Pre-interview screening questions Step 3: Conversation with two lead/principal devs Step 4: Conversation with lead dev & VP of Engineering Initial conversations with the recruiter were great, he was helpful and informative. Told me the salary expectations were perfectly in line with what they would expect. I answered the pre-interview screening questions, progressed through two 1-hour interviews with people of increasing seniority within the business. All was going well up until this point, I even received an 'informal' nudge that I was receiving an offer. At this point (only after chasing for a week), I was told that the business didn't have the budget to hire for this position anymore. It's a massive shame that this only came after weeks of talks and interviews, and hours of my time wasted.