I recently completed a two-round interview process with Atlassian for a Partner Marketing Manager role, which included creating and presenting a detailed partner marketing plan. The second round was scheduled for 30 minutes, but almost half of that was spent on introductions, leaving only about 15 minutes to present my plan. I invested substantial time and effort on the assignment, bringing more experience to the table than both interviewers combined, and was told by the hiring manager that I was moving to the final round. Throughout the interview, both interviewers repeatedly praised my presentation and approach. Yet, just two hours after the call, I received a generic rejection email from an external recruiter. The email incorrectly stated I had only one year of experience—when I have 20 years in the field, a fact I clearly demonstrated throughout the process. After investing so much in these interviews and submitting comprehensive work, the abrupt, impersonal rejection—along with the clear factual error—felt both disrespectful and frustrating. Given the positive feedback and depth of my submission, it’s hard not to feel that my program may be used without my being hired to implement it. This experience made me question how much candidates’ time and expertise are truly valued here.