Number of Interviews for one Job

Etc · 30-01-2017 06:58PM #1

I'm in a process for a new job at the moment, I've had 2 telephone interviews so far, another scheduled and then facing a panel of 5 face to face interviews.

In a previous role, I had a total of 10 interviews before being offered the position.

I understand the rationale, working cross functionally, it's good to get future colleagues input, so my question is;

What's your record for number of interviews for a specific role ?

Mrs OBumble · 30-01-2017 08:24PM

A mate of mine did 5 - and then didn't get the job.

Personally I've only ever done two. Well three if you count an on-line screening. If anyone asked for 5, they would be told to go an swing (unless I really, really, really wanted the job).

Hollister11 · 30-01-2017 08:31PM

It depends on the job.

If it's a job you just taking because it's a job, don't do more than you feel necessary.

But if it's a dream job, or one that could massively benefit your career, as many as it takes.

Senna · 30-01-2017 09:59PM

10! Bloody interviews, I know what I would have told them.
If they need 10 interviews to hire a person, I can imagine day to day work is meetings about meetings about meetings about maybe putting together a plan to meet about making a basic decision.

Stheno · 30-01-2017 10:02PM

I'd six once over a three month period.

I know someone who had 11 for a role with Linkedin including flying to the states for an interview.

odyssey06 · 30-01-2017 10:02PM

Unless you're going for CEO, 10 interviews? Sounds like a company whose HR company doesn't know what they are doing.

topmanamillion · 30-01-2017 10:17PM

Most I`ve ever done for a job was one interview.

Has the process been laid out to you either on the advert for the job or at the first interview?
If that's the case then fair enough, the guards for example have about 5 parts to go through.
If not and they are just making it up as they go I`d consider if I really wanted to work for a company like that.

PixelTrawler · 30-01-2017 11:11PM

Most ever was 1 interview, that was for the job Im in... that interview was 2001...Im way out of touch with the current interview world...at least on that side of the desk.

On the other hand Ive conducted more than 20,and we never interviewed more than once.

It worked for me so I figured it would work to hire others also... generally has worked out fine. 10 interviews is ridiculous- have those people nothing better to be doing.

Saint_Mel · 31-01-2017 07:33AM

Most I had for a position was 4. 2 telephone, a face to face and then a technical test.
Didn't get the role in the end as during the technical test (writing code, pen & paper), although my solution got the answer they were looking for, apparently they would have preferred if I had done it a different way!!

I'm chalking it down as a bullet dodged :-)

ILikeBoats · 31-01-2017 09:22AM

My current job was 2 interviews. One with my manager and HR, one with the site director. Grand.

My last job was between 2 companies, I was interviewing around the same time. I interviewed for the first and they offered a day later, 1 interview, easy. The second company did a phone interview, a face to face with management, a face to face with HR and they rang around the time when the first company offered, to see would I come back in for one final interview and I told them no, I've had another job offer which I'm going to accept and that 4 interviews was too many. They weren't particularly senior positions, I'd understand if one was going for a director role, they'd have to do their due diligence! The first role was a better position anyway so happy with my choice.

livedadream · 31-01-2017 09:49AM

Id 6 for my current job but that was a big move for me, manager of the team was in a different country so skype'd with them then met them again while they were local.
so recruiter- screening call and interview,
HR
manager via skype
director
manager local

Etc · 31-01-2017 01:47PM

Senna wrote: »

10! Bloody interviews, I know what I would have told them.
If they need 10 interviews to hire a person, I can imagine day to day work is meetings about meetings about meetings about maybe putting together a plan to meet about making a basic decision.

You arn't far off, that's why I left !!!

reallyrose · 31-01-2017 01:51PM

Three would be the average - Initial screening, formal technical interview, follow-up call with a higher-up.

American companies, I notice, love loads of interviews. They want you to talk to everyone in the team/department/company/world.

Etc · 31-01-2017 01:52PM

topmanamillion wrote: »

Most I`ve ever done for a job was one interview.

Has the process been laid out to you either on the advert for the job or at the first interview?
If that's the case then fair enough, the guards for example have about 5 parts to go through.
If not and they are just making it up as they go I`d consider if I really wanted to work for a company like that.

I was told that there would be a panel during the second interview, it's working out at a total of

3 Telephone interviews and a combination of VC's and f2f at the panel stage.

Lux23 · 31-01-2017 04:25PM

Three is the most I ever did, two seems to be normal. Lots of places only ever do one.

topmanamillion · 31-01-2017 04:42PM

Etc wrote: »

I was told that there would be a panel during the second interview, it's working out at a total of

3 Telephone interviews and a combination of VC's and f2f at the panel stage.

It sounds a bit ridiculous. Although if its a highly sought after role they could simply be trying to narrow the field.
A well structured 20 minute interview in front of a panel with you providing 3 references should cover all the bases.
I don't see what they could possibly be learning ringing you 3 times.

Etc · 31-01-2017 04:57PM

topmanamillion wrote: »

It sounds a bit ridiculous. Although if its a highly sought after role they could simply be trying to narrow the field.
A well structured 20 minute interview in front of a panel with you providing 3 references should cover all the bases.
I don't see what they could possibly be learning ringing you 3 times.

So, the first two telecons were screening with HR and the hiring manager. The third is with the hiring manager's boss in a different geographical location and the panel is with several functions I'd be interacting with and a couple with potential peers.

I'm seeing multiple interviews more and more, I pulled out of a process recently after 1 telephone interview and 2 face to face along with online aptitude tests, because it was a new role and the hiring managers didn't actually know what they wanted, i.e. no specific job spec and objectives for the role. Plus the fact they were telling me at the interviews that the company was very challenging to work for !

lawred2 · 31-01-2017 04:59PM

Etc wrote: »

I'm in a process for a new job at the moment, I've had 2 telephone interviews so far, another scheduled and then facing a panel of 5 face to face interviews.

In a previous role, I had a total of 10 interviews before being offered the position.

I understand the rationale, working cross functionally, it's good to get future colleagues input, so my question is;

What's your record for number of interviews for a specific role ?

ffs

I walk away from companies that fancy themselves that much

off.the.walls · 31-01-2017 05:00PM

I once did 8 interviews for a company because all of their managerial team kept taking holidays during the goddam process! Got offered the job but didn't take it in the end!!

Etc · 31-01-2017 05:06PM

lawred2 wrote: »

ffs

I walk away from companies that fancy themselves that much

At the time I did it because it was a big step up, the Company was good for my CV and there was a significant salary hike.

To your point, there were a lot of ex-pats taken on who had really inflated ideas of themselves. It was a place where some of these guys didn't want to be the first to leave in the evenings.

helimachoptor · 31-01-2017 08:17PM

9 for me with a big american MNC.
One of the interviews the guy was convinced i made up my address and told me i didnt belong in that area.
Asked me what i'd do if he punched me during a meeting and a rake of other things.

Then afterwards he said that was his "gameface" to make sure i was right for the role.

Then they made a paltry offer despite me agreeing verbally with my line manager what the salary would be.

PixelTrawler · 31-01-2017 08:22PM

helimachoptor wrote: »

9 for me with a big american MNC.
One of the interviews the guy was convinced i made up my address and told me i didnt belong in that area.
Asked me what i'd do if he punched me during a meeting and a rake of other things.

Then afterwards he said that was his "gameface" to make sure i was right for the role.

Then they made a paltry offer despite me agreeing verbally with my line manager what the salary would be.

Im assuming the offer was rejected! That sounds nuts...

helimachoptor · 31-01-2017 08:29PM

PixelTrawler wrote: »

Im assuming the offer was rejected! That sounds nuts...

Yep, there was starting off a 20K difference between what i had agreed and what they offered, they came back to make it 15K, I reduced my ask by 5K and so they were now short 10K from what was agreed.

tbh if they had went another 2.5K i would have taken it but they wouldnt budge.
What's funny is, two of the guys that interviewed me (but not my line manager) lived in my estate at the time so i seen them around. I spoke to both about what had happened and they weren't shocked.

They rang me then late last year and asked would i be interested as they still hadnt hired anyone ( the original process began in 2013 :eek:) I said yes i would be but salary had to be sorted. They wouldnt move on their last final offer so that was the end of that.

Elessar · 01-02-2017 08:31AM

I think it was 3, but even then I find that way too much.

Every year I review recruitment agencies salary surveys and trends data and every year the same thing pops up - interview processes are way too long and if you want to get the best candidates, in a candidate-driven market, you have to seriously shorten it!

The 3 above I had were for one multinational IT position but to be fair it was over one 2 hour period. I met with HR, the team, and the managers separately. Ultimately still didn't get it :rolleyes:

Another was 2 interviews but for an Irish company, after the first I didn't hear back at all despite asking the agent multiple times. I had chalked it off. 12 weeks later they call me up and ask me to go to a second round. I should have told them to stuff it, but I went anyway and did a very good interview. Still didn't get the position either :rolleyes:

Seriously anymore than 3 interviews (and I include things like tests) is a complete waste and I will not waste my time. If you can't make your mind up about a candidate after speaking to him, twice at the most, you haven't a clue what you want or what you're doing.

DaraDali · 01-02-2017 03:15PM

Had 2 phone interview's and 5 face 2 face with a big computer brand in Cork,

-5 drives to Cork city from Limerick
-5 questions on when will I know the outcome of the Interview process
-3 follow-up emails on when will I outcome as 1 month could go by without contact
-On the 5th interview I was told someone they were considering for the role just came back from holidays and he would be starting from the beginning

Prob the worst interview process in my life, Kinda glad I didn't get the job!

snickerpuss · 01-02-2017 06:15PM

Who has the annual leave for that kind of carry on?

Etc · 01-02-2017 11:15PM

snickerpuss wrote: »

Who has the annual leave for that kind of carry on?

People who want to move on in their careers.

campo · 01-02-2017 11:20PM

Currently in the interview process and finished my 5th interview, it involved 2 Skype interviews , 1 technical test and 2 F2F interviews , but it's a dream job so I would gladly do more if needed

eeguy · 01-02-2017 11:23PM

4 is my max.

One phone interview,
One meeting with the team,
Another phone interview
Meeting with the head guys in the dept.

Got the job

amtc · 02-02-2017 07:46AM

I had two very different experiences. Did 8 interviews for a job I stayed in for 7 years including one time where I managed to tell the hiring manager that his boss was leaving. Cringe moment. Last job I literally walked in and hiring manager asked me one question, walked out and hr asked me how much I wanted. In and out in ten minutesm

snickerpuss · 02-02-2017 04:49PM

Etc wrote: »

People who want to move on in their careers.

10 interviews? Maybe 5 days annual leave if you took a half day for each? And then you might not get it.

Etc · 02-02-2017 06:57PM

snickerpuss wrote: »

10 interviews? Maybe 5 days annual leave if you took a half day for each? And then you might not get it.

Luckily it worked out for me. I did have to drive to the West of Ireland for two interviews (both on the same day). It was a building site at the time, they were all in hi vis and safety boots and my suit was splashed with mud.

I've always worked in positions where, if I need to take a couple of hours off, I can do it so didn't have to lose leave.

At the time I increased my salary by 40% which was a fluke because the grade I was coming in on dictated a a min max range and my max was their min

ongarboy · 02-02-2017 07:46PM

What i've noticed is that the more senior and well paid the role, the easier the interview is. I've had junior interviewers for fairly crappy low paid jobs interrogate me and i've had to give many competency based examples of past experience and skills as part of the interviews and I come out of there exhausted, yet when i've gone for more high calibre roles where you are being interviewed by directors and heads of departments as part of the second or third round of interviews, they just shoot the breeze with you and barely touch on your experience. You feel like you just had a pint and chat with them...

pauliebdub · 02-02-2017 08:27PM

7 interview sessions, over a two month period comprised of:

An initial phone interview with hiring manager and a phone interview with HR, one after the other.

Called in for a face to face with HR and then the hiring manager accompanied by a developer. One after the other. Then a 45 minute skill test.

A Skype interview with a US director.

Second round interview with hiring manager and a different, more senior hr person together.

Called in for an informal meeting with three team members, one who who was obnoxious and would hate to work with and then I decided I wasn't interested in the job. Two and a half days of annual leave wasted. I've learned my lesson.

Etc · 02-02-2017 08:33PM

ongarboy wrote: »

What i've noticed is that the more senior and well paid the role, the easier the interview is. I've had junior interviewers for fairly crappy low paid jobs interrogate me and i've had to give many competency based examples of past experience and skills as part of the interviews and I come out of there exhausted, yet when i've gone for more high calibre roles where you are being interviewed by directors and heads of departments as part of the second or third round of interviews, they just shoot the breeze with you and barely touch on your experience. You feel like you just had a pint and chat with them...

Doesn't that make sense though to some extent. Getting into something is always difficult. So more junior roles will always elicit more questions to understand if the person understands the mechanics and the job.

Whereas, when it comes to senior roles, it's more about how you fit in with the rest of the mgmt team, because it's assumed, that technically you're competent.

eeguy · 03-02-2017 09:51PM

Etc wrote: »

Whereas, when it comes to senior roles, it's more about how you fit in with the rest of the mgmt team, because it's assumed, that technically you're competent.

My graduation job interviews were awful. Loads of technical questions, on a range of stuff that I never covered in college.

Every job since has been much easier. Basically just explaining what I did in the previous job and talking about my achievements. It's easy to talk about something you do every day. Much more relaxed and informal.
I suppose when you're interviewing grads they'll all have identical CVs. You only find out if theyre sh1t or good when you meet them. Easy to get jaded and irritated after a while.

Etc · 23-02-2017 07:58PM

Thought I'd just finalise this thread by saying I was offered the job and accepted.

While it was a long process, meeting so many people and getting different perspectives on the role and stakeholders expectations made it easy to say yes and know it's a place I want to work.

Thanks to everyone who responded to the thread !

dee75 · 23-02-2017 08:00PM

Etc wrote: »

Thought I'd just finalise this thread by saying I was offered the job and accepted.

While it was a long process, meeting so many people and getting different perspectives on the role and stakeholders expectations made it easy to say yes and know it's a place I want to work.

Thanks to everyone who responded to the thread !

Congratulations and good luck in the new job.

Number of Interviews for one Job

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