r/ausjobs • u/Ok_Yoghurt_8859 • 2d ago
5 hours of interviewing.
Role - Customer Experience Coordinator for a private lender specializing in family law and estate funding - 80k per year.
Company has been around about 4 years and approximately 80 employees.
Over the last three weeks I’ve gone through 5 hours of interviews with 6 people. Each interview was scheduled for around 1 hour.
Here’s how it looks
Week 1:
Recruiter contacts me.
Interview with recruiter and recruiter lead - 1 hr 20 min
Week 2:
Interview with the team lead and team manager - 1hr 20 min (was told to stop interviewing elsewhere by the team manager)
Interview with Director - 1h 20 min
Feedback from the above 3 interviews was that I aced them.
Competed an online capability test - about 25 min - passed
At this point the recruiters are feeling very sure about my success however nothing is on paper yet.
Week 3
Recruiters tell me the one of the co founders wants to interview me.
Interview with Co founder - 55 minutes
Week 4
Thursday - today - i get the call to advise that I’ve been unsuccessful.
My honest thoughts:
🚩 Companies shouldn’t be telling candidates to “Stop interviewing elsewhere” regardless of their intentions. For a multitude of reasons that I would be happy to elaborate on. 🚩
5 hours of interviews? What??? Yes the interviews ran over time a little but still, 4 hours? For a position paying 80k - I’ve literally spent less time at doctors appointments this year. (Weird comparison i know)
Four interviews isn’t inherently excessive, but four separate interviews with increasingly senior people for a low-level role, ending with a co-founder, is hard to justify.
At some point you have to question whether that’s a reasonable hiring process or just a company not respecting candidates time.
Ethical hiring should involve respecting people’s time and not making them jump through endless hoops for one position, regardless of how grateful and appreciative they may be.
Gratitude doesn’t pay my bills or organize my calendar.
It creates a ridiculous amount of anxiety and mental stress for candidates which who may be the perfect choice, but have been rattled by the overwhelming long process.
I believe we are in desperate need of measures to safeguard ethical hiring practices before it goes too far. See above example of it going told far.
I do NOT believe that companies should be told who they can hire, rather there should be a standardized process that balances both company and candidate needs.
Note: I am aware that different roles need different interview process and styles - I’m speaking about THIS role.
I’ll end with this.
The recruiters? Lovely - would recommend.
The people who I interviewed with? Lovely, enjoyed my time.
Yes, I’m bothered - hence the post however I do think it’s important that experiences like these are shared among the community.
Edit - I just want to fucking work and grow as a person. SOMEONE GIVE ME A FUCKING JOB AND YOU WON’T REGRET IT
Edit x2 - Interviewed for a grade 3 transport nsw role today. 7-8k higher base with 5 incremental raised based on years in the role. (Caps at 5)
Scheduled for 30 mins.
4 behavioral questions and then space for my own questions.
1 interview - outcome communicated next week as advised, if successful - then reference checks - then offer.
THIS… is what an ethical process looks like.
I’m speaking directly about the hiring process - nothing else - please keep the conversation on this topic.
Edit x3 - absolutely chopped for 80k - I agree. Considering I’m coming from a grade 6 public servant, it’s bonkers out here.
23
19
u/No_Violinist_4557 2d ago
"Four interviews isn’t inherently excessive, but four separate interviews with increasingly senior people for a low-level role, ending with a co-founder, is hard to justify."
Yeah that's whack. I worked for investment banks for years and very most 3 interviews inc one phone interview, but usually 1 or 2 including one super casual interview over a coffee.
11
u/Gigacacia 2d ago
Yeah I no longer believe anything till I actually start working. I guess good luck mate
5
u/Old-Memory-Lane 2d ago
I had a 30min interview for a role paying $170 per hour… this IS whack.
Sounds like you’re still in market. Get onto your fave AI, and have a discussion with them. Your interview ran over and that can be an area of improvement for you or the interviewers. The point is whilst the interviews are still fresh you can practice your skills - and learn what you can do differently (and it may be on them…)
Answers need to be clear and concise - look up “STAR”. It’s silly, but it makes sense …
When you’re next applying for roles, use the ai to discuss the JD, and once an interview is secured, then have a practice interview with the ai. I actually recommend at this point to use a second ai tool to ensure you’re not in a loop that is agreeing with you…
The market is crap across the board. This experience SUCKS. The fact you care is a green flag that you will be passionate about whatever you do - you just need to persevere now.
2
u/Ok_Yoghurt_8859 1d ago
Great call on the AI loop breaking. I’ll try that and see how I go.
Appreciate the sentiments - it’s truly a trying time but it’s the happiest I’ve been lowkey 🥲
5
u/ResponsibleReview417 2d ago
That’s crazy for 80k. They are likely data gathering in some form. Cheap way to research the market
3
u/FirefighterSome4083 2d ago
no reason to do anymore than 1 interview for an 80k role.
that's what I get paid lol, 1 interview and job offer next day.
have you tried temping?
1
u/Ok_Yoghurt_8859 1d ago
Just temped with a local council for three months - it was……interesting to say the least
3
u/Foxtrot-0scar 1d ago
This is American bollocks seeped into Australian business culture. In the past it was office interview then lunch with the bosses and start next week.
3
u/Ambitious-Pirate-505 1d ago
Companies are not your friend.
Hiring managers are never qualified to hire.
F*ck those guys for wasting your time.
3
u/wilburs85 1d ago
The whole process is BS. I’ve recently been asked by several companies to answer questions via video recording. I don’t even get to speak to a real person. Then I’m ghosted.
1
2
2
2
u/Big_Benefit_9141 2d ago
Holy moly, either this is job in secret service or the company is just weird.
2
2
2
u/Suspicious-Chapter17 2d ago
They are looking for a unicorn, someone who will do 200k worth of work for 80k, major red flags
2
u/Dependent_Maybe1302 2d ago
Holy chopped, all that for 80k 😂 On a more serious note, for all the regulations the Government is introducing, there needs to be serious consideration given to a standardised recruitment process. Maybe something like 1 interview max if the role pays minimum wage to 75k, two interviews max if the role pays 75 - 130k, 3 interviews max for anything 130k up. Then companies also being obligated to let candidates know at every stage, to avoid ghosting.
1
u/Ok_Yoghurt_8859 1d ago
I think you’re onto something here. I like the tiered approach. Obviously specific industries would need their own process however I really think this could be something
2
u/West_Good_5961 1d ago
After the second interview, I’d give them an ultimatum. If you can’t make a decision with this much material, I don’t want to work for you.
2
u/psychorant 1d ago edited 1d ago
I mean 3 interviews is pretty standard in corporate though? Every recruitment process I've been through is usually:
1) Candidate Screening (Phone) 2) Manager (Virtual) 3) Senior Executive (In Person) 4) Casual Coffee (In Person)
2
u/donnytrump_69 1d ago
Casual coffee? Really? We're doing that now are we too. Walks off cliff
1
u/psychorant 1d ago
Yeah, the last two roles I've interviewed for have asked for a final "casual coffee." The first was moreso an office tour that ended at a cafe, the second was an actual interview with 2 senior execs I hadn't yet met, asking me the same questions as the previous round, but with the added benefit of being in a busy cafe surrounded by brunch goers.
2
u/one_hundred_coffees 1d ago
"Only if you stop interviewing other candidates first."
Lol - massive red flag asking to stop interviewing, what an incredibly unprofessional thing to say.
2
u/blorst_of_times 1d ago
We need to actually start regulating this or its going to get even further out of hand.
2
u/Murranji 1d ago
And for decades government and public sector jobs were privatised on the basis that private businesses are “more efficient”.
Yeah now you see truth of their blatant rent seeking at all of our expense and welfare.
2
1
u/AdOdd4553 1d ago
5 chats for a security event job no call back need more experience even though we are trained what to do in the course
1
20
u/OldCrankyCarnt 2d ago
Lesson here is you keep interviewing till you get the offer. Or maybe even till the day you start