I interviewed for an operations coordinator role last month and went through a comprehensive process that included a recruiter call, an interview with the hiring manager, a panel interview with three team members, and a final conversation with the department director. Everything seemed promising; the hiring manager even said my experience was 'exactly what the team needs.' After the final interview, the recruiter requested three professional references and mentioned they hoped to make a decision by the end of that week. I promptly contacted my references, who confirmed they responded within two days. One reference even mentioned that the recruiter asked detailed questions and indicated I was a strong candidate. However, after that, I heard nothing for almost three weeks. I followed up politely on the following Monday, but received no reply. I sent another email at the end of that week, mainly because my references were inquiring if I had any updates. Still, no response. Then I noticed that the job had been reposted with the same title and description. The application portal still says 'interviewing,' but I haven't been contacted or formally rejected. I'm continuing to apply elsewhere, but it's frustrating to think about the time I invested in the interviews and the effort my references made on my behalf. I expected at least a basic update after they asked for references. Is this kind of silence common in the hiring process now? I understand that hiring can be delayed or budgets can change, but it feels unprofessional to completely disappear after requesting references. Should I send one last email to confirm whether the position is still active, or should I take the reposting as my answer and move on?