I was contacted by a consultancy to discuss the role, my salary expectations, and potential joining date. Afterward, they forwarded my CV to Caterpillar’s HR team. I went through two interview rounds—the first was technical, and the second followed the STAR method, involving department heads. Following the interviews, HR reached out to discuss salary, but I received no further updates. When I followed up, I was informed that there was no budget for the position, with the consultancy being blamed for miscommunication. The entire process took 3 to 4 weeks, during which I invested significant personal time preparing for and attending the interviews, as I viewed Caterpillar as a reputable company and was enthusiastic about the opportunity. It’s both frustrating and unprofessional to go through this process, only to learn of budget constraints at the final stage. I hope Caterpillar’s management, HR, and hiring team take this feedback seriously, maintain the company’s reputation, and treat candidates’ time and effort with respect, rather than taking anyone for granted.