I disappointingly did not receive a response regarding my application for this role, even though I am a former Splunk contractor (and had my contract extended multiple times, which I assumed meant that the company saw some sort of potential in me), worked in the HR department, reached out to the Hiring Manager directly, and am married to a Splunk employee (obviously my marital status should not matter, but it is disheartening that the Recruiting team would not evaluate a candidate who has strong connections to the Splunk community). I realize that these facts will reveal my identity but feel strongly that this feedback is important to share. I only found out that the position was filled because the new employee shared the news of their hiring on LinkedIn, and I was notified that many of my Splunk connections “liked” the post. The tech community is not as large as we may think and it is important to recognize that unfortunate situations like this can easily occur. Note: I can absolutely accept that I am not qualified/the wrong “fit” for the position, however not receiving communication of any type can make former employees/contractors question the memories they have of working at the company. Even though Splunk is growing rapidly, I know from experience that HR employees have had to be held accountable for “spurning” candidates within the Splunk family, even if it is completely accidental/an innocent oversight. I remember that the Recruiting team wanted to create a high-touch candidate experience: if that is still the case, perhaps an extra (but necessary) step of a direct phone call with feedback to former Splunkers would be appropriate? I would hope that recruiters are taking the time to look at candidates’ resumes and, upon seeing Splunk under “Experience,” would ensure that said candidates are formally contacted. Also, please know that I am not trying to get anyone in “trouble,” and am aware that Splunk has the potential to create positive referral experiences. It is discouraging that these errors still occur, and I hope that this feedback will help improve internal processes so no other candidates who have worked at Splunk in the past feel this type of confusion, frustration, and disappointment.