First, I was asked to complete 2 phone interviews - each 30+ minutes long. Then, I was asked to create a marketing plan for the launch of a feature the company is working on developing. Keep in mind they'd not even met me in person yet, and provided me with no real instructions or data on which to build a plan around. This felt like a super inappropriate request, but I felt I had little choice if I wanted the job so I ignored my instincts. Don't be like me. Next, I was asked to come in to meet the team and present my plan. While walking through the plan I was asked detailed questions about the process for implementing the plan, what tools I would use to execute, and how I would manage customer relationships throughout the launch of this feature. The team took detailed notes on the ideas that I shared with them and the answers to their questions about implementation. I was told that a decision was forthcoming following this interview. It was not. Then I was asked to have an additional meeting with the company's chairman. This was another very in-depth meeting about the details of my marketing plan, my opinions on the viability of some of their future plans, and analysis of the company's competitors. The focus was on my ideas for their company, not on my experience as a candidate. Curious, right? Following that meeting, it was requested that I then return for an [unpaid] half-day to see how I worked with the team. Something something about writing a symphony and needing to know how I as an instrument fit in... He also informed me that they were still considering several candidates, now 5 rounds into the process. I decided that at this point that I needed to draw a line and in an attempt to maintain what little of my dignity remained, I stated that I had provided a lot of information already and would not be available for a half-day without an offer. THIS IS WHEN IT GOT REAL I receive a cryptic voicemail from the chairman saying he wanted to talk. When we finally did connect, he gets around to informing me that there was actually no room for this role in the budget at present AND I didn't have enough experience anyway, which he only managed to conclude when I told him it was time to fish or cut bait. When I questioned why I had been strung along through 5 rounds of his hiring shenanigans with them knowing very well what my level of experience was AND asked to come in for an additional unpaid half-day of work, I was informed that they were hoping I would be open to the possibility of maybe possibly accepting a lower-level role sometime in the next quarter. (Hint: I won't be) I pointed out that I'd done a lot of profit relevant work that would fall into the category of consulting, and what would be done with the intellectual property that had been shared with them. I was brushed off and told that this work was purely hypothetical and that they would be going in an entirely different direction than the plan he had not yet actually read. He then followed that up by explaining their plans to implement a program idea that - you guessed it - I had developed and shared with his team during my meeting with them. I fully expect to see my ideas stolen and implemented without compensation. TL;DR This company strung me along through 5 hiring rounds, only fessing up when I refused a 6th working interview. Throughout the process, they collected a large amount of intellectual property that would normally be paid consulting work, and they were doing this same process with "several other candidates." And the position doesn't actually exist.