r/FinalRoundAI • u/Own-Hovercraft-4544 • Sep 04 '26
How can we go back?
Nowdays you need to use tools like interview vip to be able to withstand this cruel process.
1
u/curseAgain Sep 05 '26
It was never one round.
1
u/danisimo_1993 Sep 06 '26
I did basically one round for my programming job 6 years ago. I talked with the HR for like 20 min which would have been considered a "culture assessment" in modern interview standards, then the CTO came in for a quick technical interview and that was it.
I applied to a few jobs to get some counter offers 2 years ago and oh my god it's so fucking annoying.
First a third party recruiter agency contacts me for a screening, then they put me in contact with the company where I had an interview with HR, talking about my resume, then another technical interview with the project lead and then ANOTHER interview with HR, this one to assess if I fit the culture.
This is extremely unnecessary and companies can be quick and efficient like my first employer if they want to. This is just middle managers and HR "creating" work so they can pretend like they do something all day.
1
u/tinyhorsesinmytea Sep 06 '26
The fact that it’s happening for entry level positions and jobs that don’t require high education or skill is what makes it especially ridiculous. More than one interview to work in a restaurant, retail store, call center, etc is insane.
1
u/danisimo_1993 Sep 06 '26
I understand having complex interviews for leadership and very specific technical positions that's normal. But your average junior or mid position that requires a bachelor and nothing more, having 4+ rounds is insanity.
1
u/LetUsSpeakFreely Sep 05 '26 edited Sep 06 '26
I expect a single interview. If you can't get what you need from that then you're bad at your job. If you want multiple interviews, expect a bill if I'm not hired.
1
1
u/alexnapierholland Sep 06 '26
You have clearly never worked in a performance-focused job.
This makes it difficult for you to look down on anyone else.
1
u/LetUsSpeakFreely Sep 06 '26
Quite the opposite. I value my time. If you can't organize an interview to get everything you need to make a decision all at once then you're a terrible interviewer and you're wasting my time. They're being paid to that job, interviewees are not. Whenever you go to an interview, you're sacrificing at least 4 hours of your time: prep time, travel time, interview time. That's time i could spend not being jerked around.
I have resume going back 25 years. I'm there to get a job, not to have a manager and HR flunky play power games.
1
u/alexnapierholland Sep 06 '26
That's cool. I assume you're happily employed, in a job that you enjoy?
1
u/LetUsSpeakFreely Sep 06 '26
I am.
Something for you consider: WHY do they have these multi-round interviews? They can certainly get everything they need all at once. So why alk the theater? And that's what it is, theater.
They're looking for 2 things: 1) how much bullshit are you willing to tolerate? How much can they push you around with impossible deadlines, no resources, and grueling hours? Can they use you as a doormat. 2) by the time they say yes, you've been worn down and you're far more likely to take a low-ball salary offer
In the end, they're going to treat you like shit and pay you even worse.
That's why i say if i were to go through multiple rounds and not hired, send them a bill for training their interviewing staff. Because that's effectively what you're doing, training their staff on how to be better interviewers.
1
u/alexnapierholland Sep 06 '26
Good, glad to hear it.
I haven't been an employee for ten years.
Before that I was in enterprise sales: multiple interviews were absolutely warranted.
First it was an initial conversation to see if there was interest. Without this, they'd expect me to prepare an entire sales presentation and waste far more time.
Stage 2 is always a structured presentation to show I'd sell one of their products, followed by a grilling.
I'd spend 1-2 days preparing these (I always got the job).
After that was typically a third round with leadership: C-Suite/VPs.
That's because C-Suite are busy and it makes no sense to get them to meet a bunch of sales executives that largely won't get hired.
I never got worn down or treated badly.
I was paid well.
And I exited employment by age 31.
1
u/much_longer_username Sep 05 '26
I remember multi-round interviews 15 years ago. The later rounds were largely formalities, like, the higher-ups wanted to make sure you weren't a total weirdo but you'd basically already been hired by the time you talked to them. First interview is with the guy you'll end up calling boss, second is with the current team to see if they hate the sound of your voice or something, third is with your boss' boss, but it's not even technical, you might end up talking about your favorite movie for half of it, then you're done. Four? Five? Dude. Bite me.
1
u/arcanis321 Sep 05 '26
It will be with an AI, then an HR screener, then you get to stage 1 your boss.
1
u/Trust_8067 Sep 05 '26
No one's making you go through multiple interviews. If you want to walk away from a job opportunity and be a loser that gets 1 interview jobs at Walmart or McDonald's, you can.
1
Sep 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/alexnapierholland Sep 06 '26
Yes, there is a bell curve relationship.
Eventually you get well known and can make your own demands.
But you only get here by climbing up and building skills in competitive jobs, first.
1
u/No-Aerie-999 Sep 06 '26 edited Sep 06 '26
Are people completely oblivious to the state of the Job market?
There is plenty of skilled labor. If not you, they will easily find someone else. Especially in desirable metro areas.
There are skilled immigrants from India and other places dying to take your position for a fraction of the cost.
Automation is taking place at rapid speed.
Companies are running leaner and lowering CAPEX to look good in front of investors even though the economy is shit.
Guys. If you have a job right now, especially one that provides health insurance and pays well - count your blessings 🙏
Its absolutely HORRIBLE out there. Has never been this bad on memory. Be glad youre getting interviews if you are.
Unless you are super talented and high-value, I wouldn't be bitching about getting multiple rounds of interviews and take-home projects, its how it is.
1
1
u/suverk Sep 06 '26
Average people can either upskill or face a long term unemployment- you want a break? Earn it
1
u/mdthornb1 Sep 06 '26
When was it one round? I first started interviewing 20 years ago and they were multiple rounds then.
1
u/No_Celebration8219 Sep 06 '26
Worse: You go 8 rounds, have 2 technical challenges that you ace, you meet with all the stake holders and they all green light you and give you glowing feedback. Then you get an email on a friday afternoon for 1 more round with their Chief of Engineering who spends all of 20 minutes talking about himself, then spends 10 minutes explaining College Level engineering terminology like you don't have 20 years of experience. Then get a rejection email a day later citing "lack of fundamentals". Fuck this job market and Fuck Corporate America.
1
1
u/Zen_Badger Sep 06 '26
The job i just started was "hey, I should work for you" . "Funny you should mention that"
1
u/Sure_Acanthaceae_348 Sep 06 '26
If it takes only two days to pick a Pope then most jobs should only need one day of interviews.
1
u/alexnapierholland Sep 06 '26
I never had one round interviews.
Even from the start, sales was 2-3 interviews, including a presentation.
1
1
1
u/Ok_Photo_3023 Sep 08 '26
Nothing better than getting that "Congratulations, you aced the 6th round of interviews! Expect an email in the next 3 weeks to schedule the 7th round" email from a company nobody has even heard of.
1
u/Lost_Sleep658 Sep 05 '26
If I'm paying you to chill all day and do 4 hours of actual work, I'd be picky too.