I was initially contacted through LinkedIn by a third-party recruiter and scheduled a phone screen, which went well.

After two or three weeks, I was scheduled to speak with the hiring manager. It was a Skype interview, and we had a nice conversation. The questions were not too difficult, and I was quite excited about the role.

The next morning, I was invited for an onsite interview and scheduled to fly to Redmond in about three weeks. All the travel logistics were scheduled very efficiently by Microsoft.

I prepared for these interviews very well (or so I thought) by reading hundreds of blogs, doing more research on the products, coming up with questions, deciding what to wear (don't wear a suit; business casual is better), and everything else imaginable about interview preparation for your dream job.

I flew the night before and got ready for my three scheduled interviews (I was emailed the list of interviewers the night before). The three interviews, including lunch, went well enough apparently. I was then added two more, which, according to the internet, is a great sign.

I completed the full loop and was sent home after five interviews and one conversation with HR. I felt pretty confident at the end of the day. I flew back home, and this is where things got frustrating.

Some people hear about the interview outcome the very next day. I initially sent out an email about two weeks after the onsite and was told to wait. I did wait for four months and was rejected in the end.

The whole process took half a year to get a pass, so it is hard not to feel disappointed. All the interviewers were top-notch, though, and I can say they have been some of the best interviews I have ever had.

I wish you all the best of luck, but I do believe HR should be more upfront about deadlines and expectations.

Tell me about yourself.