I applied through LinkedIn. The first call with the recruiter raised concerns when I was asked for salary expectations despite no range being listed for a New York City role—something that’s legally required. The next day, I got an unplanned follow-up call with repeated questions I had already answered. I advanced to a second round with the hiring manager, but the role felt undefined and tied to modest growth expectations. The final step was a case study with strict rules, numerous questions, and minimal space for answers. The structure and scope suggested they were gathering free insights rather than fairly assessing candidates. I submitted a reduced version and had already decided it wasn’t the kind of company I wanted to join.