The interview began positively, and the interviewer asked about my background and how my skills aligned with the role. I explained how my experience fit the job description. During the call, the interviewer informed me that they were unlikely to move forward because they already had a candidate with 10 years of experience who had completed all stages of the process and whom they were prioritising. When I asked why the interview was scheduled if a final candidate had already been chosen, I was told they were still finishing their scheduled interviews because an official offer had not yet been signed. I had rescheduled my morning to accommodate an early interview slot and spent significant time preparing. It felt like my time was not respected, as the hiring decision seemed to be largely determined before our conversation began.