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Ask HN: When did 7 interviews become “normal”?

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Re: Ask HN: When did 7 interviews become “normal”?

#21

Post by pcurve »

For higher level jobs (i.e. directors+), 5-7 interview sounds pretty normal for a fairly large organization, and I don't think this has changed much.

1. Recruiter screening

2. Hiring Manager interview/screening

3. Hiring manager + your peer group within your org

4. hiring manager + your peer group outside your org (just because everybody is so busy)

5. Hiring manager + more senior leaders (this could take place before peer group)

6. Individual separate meetings with your future directs (more formality at this point)

Now, if it is a contract role, I will hire just after 1-2 panel interviews depending on level.

Re: Ask HN: When did 7 interviews become “normal”?

#22

Post by javajosh »

It isn't. Over time you will notice that counter parties in negotiation will often use "normal" or "industry standard" argument to achieve their goals. Sadly for commodities the enforcement machinery cannot usually accommodate variation anyway. The best option is to walk away.

Re: Ask HN: When did 7 interviews become “normal”?

#23

Post by noir_lord »

hasmolo wrote: post #14
5350-uiop-1130 wrote: post #9

Yeah I have 16 years experience and was asked to take an aptitude (IQ) test. I find it personally insulting. I think it all emerged from the recruiting/HR market. They started as middlemen but found a way to take on more of the "gatekeeping" role in hiring. This then lead to recruiters using more and more technical jargon and then we saw the emergence of leetcode interviews trend from faang, and multiple stupid inter…

this right here. i was told to fill out essays as part of the interview process to indicate i had a good culture fit. i'm talking college entrance length and prompt. shit like in 5.000 words tell me how u r a team player. nahhhhhhh

Would have just submitted "Clearly I'm not".

Re: Ask HN: When did 7 interviews become “normal”?

#24

Post by [deleted] »

forum_ghost wrote: post #18
imtakmo wrote: post #12

I entered the software industry as a developer about 4 years ago, and I have been running interviews for the past 2 years or so. Interview hell is all I have ever known. Could you elaborate on how things worked differently in the past? I legitimately have no idea what a developer interview "loop" would look like without 5 to 7 interviews, but I desperately hope it can exist.

1st phone call directly with the hiring manager, after the resume has been screened by the hiring manager. 2nd meeting in person, a few questions, maybe a take home task. Decision made in 24-48 hrs.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: When did 7 interviews become “normal”?

#26

Post by vsareto »

>I was told "5 to 7 interviews is normal"

Be suspicious when anyone says something is normal in tech that tries to speak about the operations and culture of a vast array of companies, especially recruiters and very especially recruiters who work for recruiting companies.

Tech is a massive industry, and there's enough companies that don't do the normal thing that you can spend only a year at those companies and still have enough companies to remain employed for a lifetime. That's only 45 companies from age 20 to 65 if you only ever work a year at a single company.

That said, 5-7 seems exceptionally high. I've only ever done a max of 4, personally.

Re: Ask HN: When did 7 interviews become “normal”?

#27

Post by Etheryte »

imtakmo wrote: post #12

I entered the software industry as a developer about 4 years ago, and I have been running interviews for the past 2 years or so. Interview hell is all I have ever known. Could you elaborate on how things worked differently in the past? I legitimately have no idea what a developer interview "loop" would look like without 5 to 7 interviews, but I desperately hope it can exist.

I wouldn't say it's a thing of the past in any sense. One of the first things you should ask or be informed of when you make contact is how the interview etc process looks like. When it's bogus, politely decline the position and move on. There are plenty of good companies out there (unless you're in a tight spot in which case any job is better than no job). For context, my latest hiring experience was a call for initial contact, two video meetings and then some emails about the minute details if I remember correctly.

Re: Ask HN: When did 7 interviews become “normal”?

#28

Post by grapeskin »

5350-uiop-1130 wrote: post #9

Yeah I have 16 years experience and was asked to take an aptitude (IQ) test. I find it personally insulting. I think it all emerged from the recruiting/HR market. They started as middlemen but found a way to take on more of the "gatekeeping" role in hiring. This then lead to recruiters using more and more technical jargon and then we saw the emergence of leetcode interviews trend from faang, and multiple stupid inter…

IQ-style tests are the norm in parts of Asia. Straight up 200 arithmetic problems in 10 minutes, draw as many perfect squares as possible in 30 seconds, “what’s the best synonym for this word” type of stuff preceding a tech interview. Plus some old sweaty guy in a suit to berate you for not doing something perfectly and question why your 32nd square is slightly tilted to the left while the others are to the right, and how this will reflect upon your moral standing during working hours.

It’s absolutely nuts. I ignore requests from any company that publicly says they require it.

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