A series of interviews for a job

[Lamb]

How many interviews did you have to go through to get the job you have? Have you ever had a series of interviews over the course of weeks/months?

My daughter has said it's now normal to go through multiple interviews. She has a phone interview today for a position, but then there are 3 more interviews to get through after that...if she progresses onto the others.

To me, it's just odd and means that no one knows how to make a choice anymore for candidates.

 

[Josiah]

As an employer, yes - the norm is for a series of interviews.

The first usually is by phone or zoom. The second is of a handful of those still in consideration after the first phone interviews and is by administration and whoever the supervisor would be. The third would be of the 1-3 we are still considering, and that often includes co-workers - those with whom they would be working (the company is small so that's not many). One of these (or additional to these) might be a lunch together. By the way, we welcome BEING interviewed by the candidate - questions are encouraged. They need to be sure it's a good fit, too.

I don't think it's because upper management can't make decisions, it's because in our company, collaboration is critical, "team work" is highly valued and essential; we need to know this is someone who can work successfully with the team. And we want to be sure the candidate knows the company and those that work here. The candidate needs to be a good fit - from their perspective and ours. Not simply "qualified" for the job.

This process means qualifications "on paper" are not as important as might otherwise be the case. We're looking more at the person than what they've put on the application form.

For companies, the hiring AND dismissing process are difficult for everyone. And a LOT is often invested in that employee when they come on board. A company really wants to be sure this is a good addition.... and so does the candidate. No one wants to regret the decision - that costs everyone, in more ways that one.

A candidate should welcome a process that is very careful. Among other things, it makes it less likely they will be dismissed or find themselves in a undesired situation.


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[tango]

I work for myself so interviews never really happened.

As with so much else I guess a lot would depend on the company and the role. I wouldn't expect a succession of interviews to secure a job as a janitor and wouldn't expect to land a senior engineer's position with a 10-minute online meeting. That said the last company I worked for before I went totally independent went through the process remarkably fast - a single interview with the guy who would be my manager, talk of another interview with his manager that never happened because he was too busy, so they just asked if I still wanted the position.