{
  "registry_version": "2026.08.2",
  "data": {
    "title": "Position closed after final interview without hire",
    "status": "active",
    "evidence_ids": [
      "EVD-004"
    ],
    "content": "# Position closed after final interview without hire\n\nCandidate completes all interview rounds, but is informed that the requisition has been cancelled, frozen, or closed.\n\n### Diagnostic Non-Inferences\n- Does not prove candidate failed technical or behavioral evaluations.\n- Does not prove the company lied about opening intention.",
    "id": "A-003",
    "type": "artifact",
    "summary": "Candidate completes all interview rounds, but is informed that the requisition has been cancelled, frozen, or closed.",
    "stages": [
      "team",
      "offer"
    ],
    "evidence_level": "supported",
    "probes": [
      {
        "id": "PROBE-A-003-1",
        "action": "Politely inquire with recruiter if the position was closed due to business budget restructuring or team reallocation.",
        "expected_signal": "Clarifies whether barrier was candidate-specific or macroeconomic/budgetary.",
        "cost": "low"
      }
    ],
    "specimens": [
      {
        "kind": "transcript",
        "label": "Final round, closing minutes",
        "context": "minute 47 of 50, four days before the email below",
        "lines": [
          {
            "speaker": "Hiring manager",
            "at": "47:10",
            "text": "That is everything from our side. Any questions for us?",
            "tell": false
          },
          {
            "speaker": "Candidate",
            "at": "47:18",
            "text": "Only about timing — what happens next?",
            "tell": false
          },
          {
            "speaker": "Hiring manager",
            "at": "47:24",
            "text": "We are wrapping up the loop this week. You are the last of three finalists, so expect to hear back by Friday at the latest.",
            "tell": true
          },
          {
            "speaker": "Candidate",
            "at": "47:41",
            "text": "Understood. Thank you for the time.",
            "tell": false
          }
        ],
        "reading": "The process was described as live and near a decision. Whatever happened next happened after this point, not before it."
      },
      {
        "kind": "email",
        "label": "Rejection email",
        "subject": "Regarding the Senior Backend Engineer search",
        "context": "day 4 after the final round",
        "lines": [
          {
            "text": "Thank you again for the conversations over the past six weeks — the panel was consistently positive about your work.",
            "tell": false
          },
          {
            "text": "I am writing with disappointing news: the requisition has been put on hold as part of a wider planning review, and we will not be filling the role this quarter.",
            "tell": true
          },
          {
            "text": "This is not a reflection on your interviews. If the role reopens I would like to come back to you first.",
            "tell": false
          }
        ],
        "reading": "The stated cause sits above the hiring loop entirely. A candidate cannot pass or fail a budget review."
      }
    ],
    "non_inferences": [
      "Does not prove candidate failed technical or behavioral evaluations.",
      "Does not prove the company lied about opening intention."
    ]
  }
}