Jumping through hoops...

[Randomguy]

I have noticed a trend when interviewing this time around, employers now seem to be having you jump through a lot more hoops recently.  

So the trend is multiple phone interviews and multiple in-person interviews with much more significant hoops to blast through.  Used to be one phone interview and they figured they liked you enough to have you in and do a face to face, and maybe a follow-up where you sort the details out if they dig you.

One company where I had to do a powerpoint presentation and competitive analysis was actually the fifth time I had talked to them or seen them in person.  I had never done a powerpoint presentation before, but I think I did pretty well.  I did a lot of research on them and even pulled out facts and figures from a very recent company blog post (you know, making my own luck  ) where I impressed my audience.  I am sure they were saying to themselves "Well there goes a swinging dick that sure makes his own luck, I sure hope it is good luck!"  Ha, joke would be on them with all the recent fun!

I interviewed at a company yesterday with two people (after 2 phone interviews with the hiring manager and one with the director in Cincinnati), and now I am tasked with redoing their sales pitch emails for the team without first seeing any of their sales pitch emails or knowing their prior strategy/hit rates/etc.  Yay!

Have I ever mentioned that I hate the whole interviewing process?  It really seems much more involved than it used to be.

 

[donkpow]

If you were to let go a few "f" bombs in the first interview, you wouldn't have this trouble.

[Randomguy]

11 minutes ago, donkpow said:

If you were to let go a few "f" bombs in the first interview, you wouldn't have this trouble.

Oh, I do.  "Your fucking reports are weak, like little nancy-boys unequipped for this world.  It is dog-eat-fucking-shark out there, and they have never had a real man with his arm all the way up their asses, working them like puppets until they understand how to fucking get it right"

This is highly effective.

[Road Runner]

36 minutes ago, Randomguy said:

Have I ever mentioned that I hate the whole interviewing process?  It really seems much more involved than it used to be.

I'll bet it's not that bad at Starbucks or Taco Bell.  

[2Far ★]

5 times is just over the egregious line, unless you're applying to be their CEO. It's starting to show that they 1) don't have their shit together, and 2) they don't value your time.

2 x phones & 2 x in-person should be the max.

PPT is prolly OK, they want to see the way you think.

Redoing their emails (with the potential that they could use them even if they don't hire you) is shady.

Never do any creative work that a company could use for their benefit.

https://www.askamanager.org/2017/10/what-red-flags-while-you-were-interviewing-turned-out-to-be-signs-of-real-problems.html

 

[Randomguy]

31 minutes ago, 2Far said:

5 times is just over the egregious line, unless you're applying to be their CEO. It's starting to show that they 1) don't have their shit together, and 2) they don't value your time.

2 x phones & 2 x in-person should be the max.

PPT is prolly OK, they want to see the way you think.

Redoing their emails (with the potential that they could use them even if they don't hire you) is shady.

Never do any creative work that a company could use for their benefit.

https://www.askamanager.org/2017/10/what-red-flags-while-you-were-interviewing-turned-out-to-be-signs-of-real-problems.html

 

The best company I ever worked for had me interview with 7 people.  It was exhausting, but it was widely considered the best company to work for in Boulder at the time (1995).  They told you about their process in the first contact, so you knew going in it was an uphill slog.  I got an intro to the company by meeting my eventual manager's sister while out mountain biking.

The company was bought a year and a half later and moved to Kansas City.  No way I was moving to KC from Boulder.

The powerpoint company seemed to have things way more together, btw.  I don't think I can afford to be choosy at this point, though, I need cash.

[donkpow]

9 minutes ago, 2Far said:

1) don't have their shit together

 

[2Far ★]

1 minute ago, Randomguy said:

The best company I ever worked for had me interview with 7 people.  It was exhausting, but it was widely considered the best company to work for in Boulder at the time (1995).  They told you about their process in the first contact, so you knew going in it was an uphill slag.  I got an intro to the company by meeting my eventual manager's sister while out mountain biking.

The company was bought a year and a half later and moved to Kansas City.  No way I was moving to KC from Boulder.

7 people in 7 different days?

[Randomguy]

17 minutes ago, 2Far said:

7 people in 7 different days?

No, it was a couple phone interviews with separate people, then two one-one-one interviews, a group interview, then one with the sales director  then the final was with the director of HR, who I was told holds the final interview with all candidates for the company and actively looks for reasons not to hire you.  (her last name was 'Kline', and people called her 'de-Kline' because she bounced quite a few people.  Really involved, but again, they were the best company in the area at the time and everybody was trying to get in there.

Two one-on-ones and the group interview were on the same day.

It was a great company to work for while it lasted.

[team scooter]

Times have changed and so has the game. Background checks, credit checks, drug tests etc. Got an attitude and lectured once from a COO because I wore a dress shirt and slacks instead of a business suit to an interview, for a landscaping position. However they did call me back a few weeks later for another interview, after I found another job.  I told the recruiter to tell them thanks but I'd need to pass because my tux was at the cleaners. Not sure she got the joke.  

[Ralphie ★]

12 minutes ago, team scooter said:

Times have changed and so has the game. Background checks, credit checks, drug tests etc. Got an attitude and lectured once from a COO because I wore a dress shirt and slacks instead of a business suit to an interview, for a landscaping position. However they did call me back a few weeks later for another interview, after I found another job.  I told the recruiter to tell them thanks but I'd need to pass because my tux was at the cleaners. Not sure she got the joke.  

Subtlety is lost on most morans. :D

 

[parodybot]

53 minutes ago, Randomguy said:

The best company I ever worked for had me interview with 7 people.  It was exhausting, but it was widely considered the best company to work for in Boulder at the time (1995).  They told you about their process in the first contact, so you knew going in it was an uphill slog.  I got an intro to the company by meeting my eventual manager's sister while out mountain biking.

The company was bought a year and a half later and moved to Kansas City.  No way I was moving to KC from Boulder.

The powerpoint company seemed to have things way more together, btw.  I don't think I can afford to be choosy at this point, though, I need cash.

KC has much better BBQ than Boulder, but their weed and edibles leave something to be desired.  KC has better meth.

[Ralphie ★]

I hate companies that put you through too many hoops.  They suck, pure and simple.  That is probably a sign of what working life would be there, a dog constantly jumping through hoops and filling oot TPS Reports left and right. :)

 

[Further]

Back in the 70's I interviewed at UPS for a temp Christmas job. The interviewer told me that UPS only hired 2 kinds of people, perfect & damn near perfect, and he didn't think I was either. 

I told him to toss the application, I didn't think UPS met my expectations.