I applied through LinkedIn and was contacted by a recruiter for the first technical round over a Zoom call. The interview went really well, with a strong focus on Java, OOP concepts, and Data Structures & Algorithms. I confidently answered all the questions, and the interviewer informed me at the end that I had been selected for the second round. However, just a day later, I received a call from the same recruiter informing me that I was rejected. No proper reason was given, and the sudden change felt confusing and unprofessional. It left me with the impression that the hiring process may not be as transparent as it seems — possibly favoring referral candidates over open applicants. This experience was disappointing, especially after receiving positive feedback during the technical round. Advice to candidates: Be cautious and manage your expectations if you're not applying through a referral. Even a strong performance doesn't guarantee fair evaluation. Advice to the company: Please improve your communication and ensure consistency between what interviewers convey and what the final decisions are. Candidates invest their time and effort – they deserve clarity and transparency.