Timeline:

• I applied to a Linkedin job ad April 1 and was called by a recruiting agency April 2, setting up a screening call with the agency’s account manager April 3. I passed the phone screen.
• Agency set me up with their client’s hiring manager for April 6 Zoom interview and I was required to send them my references beforehand. The agency called me before the interview to practice/help me prepare. Made good impression at the interview and soon after, the account manager advised I made it to the final round, April 7 with 2 hiring managers. That interview was more difficult with some unique questions meant to trip a candidate up.
• Agency advised I’d hear an update by April 8 as a manager was going on vacation and they wanted to pick a candidate before leaving.
• Then the stalling/excuses began. Agency claimed the hiring managers were away at a conference. Then they wanted to interview another candidate, then the account manager’s meeting with them was postponed. I followed up a couple of times.
• Latest update was hiring manager returned from vacation April 24 and they should have an update for me by April 27. Well guess what? Silence April 27 and 28.

In my last follow up, I asked the agency to update me in writing when an offer was ready as I was fed up of the recruiter calling me claiming their client was supposedly ready to make me an offer “any day now”. I don’t understand the agency’s motivation to string me along like this. I of course continued to apply for other openings but regret getting my hopes up for this gig.