Once, I and three other candidates were asked to write a white paper as part of the selection process. We were given two weeks to complete the paper and access

Once, I and three other candidates were asked to write a white paper as part of the selection process. We were given two weeks to complete the paper and access to certain company information, under nondisclosure of course. The position was rather senior and the executive search firm was highly reputable. So we all participated. There were a few follow up questions on our papers. Roughly, a month after papers were submitted, we were informed that the company had withdrawn the position and terminated their relationship with the search firm. Beyond the fees paid to the search firm, the company incurred little expense for very experienced consulting. Unethical to say the least.