The initial interview with the hiring manager was very positive and felt more like an informal discussion than an interview. Afterwards he said he would recommend me to move through to the next round of interviews, a process that would take a couple weeks to plan and schedule. Fast forward 2.5 months later...after numerous follow up emails on my behalf, and return emails from the Mgr stating reasons/excuses such as "holding patterns and other issues taking precedence over the market area" I sent yet another email inquiring about the status of the position and was informed Pabst had hired someone else that same week.
The frustrating part of everything wasn't not being hired. If another candidate was a better fit or had greater experience than me, I'll accept that. What I don’t appreciate is the fact I was never really given an honest shot at the role in the 1st place. If you say you "like someone" and you're going to move them forward, do it. Don't blow smoke and get people's hopes up. Also, Pabst should really try to reach out to the candidates who weren't hired to inform them they weren't, before the candidate has to call and get the news themselves. Especially after they've been goose chasing the position for 2.5 months.