Handled through a major third party recruiter, arrived at building, met staff, one-on-one with hiring manager. Received great feedback, invited back to meet senior management, also received great feedback, "give us some dates when you could start", then total dead air....recruiter could get nothing either, then a flat "we're not filling that position." Come to find out through other sources that the hiring manager hired her "friend" instead. She was looking for high experience professionals and then hired a non-degreed "friend". Months later, come to find out from talking with other recruiters about this experience is that this is the hiring manager's MO - high energy, sky's the limit, engage, praise, flirt, entice, promise a bright future, everything is go, oh-just one last hurdle, then ....silence. The recruiters indicated that this very pattern was present with at least three to four other clients they'd represented. Everyone felt they were getting the job, each was devastated over how they got dropped so casually. Recruiters struggled to come to grips with it too as they were feeling equally whipsawed and then had to take care of the interviewee while keeping NCP happy as well. Needless to say, these outcomes distressed everyone involved, except the hiring manager. Its one thing to keep people interested and engaged in your company's search, it is another to mislead them. There is a fine line there and I feel she goes over it with her actions/attitudes -- but not her words. Since she never formally offers the job in writing or verbally, she's probably just fine legally. Morally, ethically, I'd say not, but that's just my opinion. If someone has no shot at a job, then you let them know. You don't string four plus people along to then drop it as if its not a very personal thing. I'd would be wary about this location in Houston as long as the current CFO is in place. I would worry about the disconnect between what she says and what she does. I've had plenty of difficult interviews and outcomes, doesn't everyone, but this was searingly personal because of the way she over-identifies with the potential employee and makes you feel you are the "one". It is no less shameful than harassment in my mind because it leaves you emotionally devastated at the end. I was embarrassed for my own reaction, the recruiter was equally embarrassed and unhappy. It sucked!