Two part interview with people who the prospective employee would work under. After these interviews, they requested handwritten letters from references. In addition to the handwritten letters, references will need to vouch for prospective candidates via a phone call. I learned that they ultimately decided on another candidate for reasons that they were aware of prior to asking for handwritten letters. It’s more disappointing knowing you wasted your and your references’ time than not receiving an offer. Any reasonable person can understand not receiving an offer, but asking for handwritten letters from references when you’re not sure about giving a candidate an offer is flawed and absurd.