“Be prepared for the worst. If you start getting interview calls, I recommend accepting that you’re going to be in for a long arduous process with a lot of competition,” said one workplace expert.
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Economic uncertainty has not only led to layoffs and hiring freezes—job interviews are also getting longer.
“Hiring, onboarding and training is an expensive process, and companies want to be sure they get the right candidate from the start,” said Richard Lambert, resume and workplace expert.
While three to five rounds of interviews were once expected for non-management positions, the new norm is much more demanding.
“I’ve had clients who have had hellish interview experiences,” Lambert shares.
“They’re thrilled to get the call back after their resumes went through the vetting process, only to be put through the most thorny spots with a post-interview round, tests, and creating actual work for a job they don’t yet have .”
It is better to be surprised by a quick and easy interview procedure than to be caught off guard by a more difficult procedure.
Richard Lambert
Resume and Workplace Expert
As lengthy interviews become more common, job seekers must adapt to this process of jumping through more hoops.
“Be prepared for the worst. If you start getting calls for interviews, I recommend accepting that you’re going to be in for a long, difficult process with a lot of competition,” Lambert added.
“It’s better to be surprised by a quick and easy interview procedure than to be caught off guard by a more difficult procedure.”
Here are four tips for long interview processes—and nailing them:
When facing an advanced interview process, take the time to evaluate the opportunity based on your personal and professional goals, said Steven Leitch, career coach and resume expert. This will determine whether it is worth investing more energy into the process.
“Consider the organization’s reputation, culture and growth prospects. This will help you determine if the company aligns with your values.”
You also need to assess the role and its potential for growth, he added.
“Consider the position’s potential for learning, career development and advancement. Evaluate whether the opportunity aligns with your long-term goals and whether the investment of time and effort will be worthwhile.”
Long job interviews can be frustrating, but this can be managed if you first seek clarity on the way forward.
“Open communication with the hiring manager or human resources representative will give you a better understanding of what to expect,” Leitch said.
“Look for clarity on the number of interview rounds, tests and expected timeline from the early stages of the process.”
If you have the mindset that interviewing is going to be a marathon, you’ll expect it and be better prepared to see things through
Richard Lambert
Resume and Workplace Expert
This will help prepare you to go the distance as a candidate.
“When training for a marathon, one doesn’t get upset about how long the marathon course is — they train to meet the challenge,” Lambert said.
“Same with the now-normal long interview process: If you have the mindset that the interview will be a marathon, you’ll expect it and be better prepared to see things through.”
Ayomi Samaraweera, a former management consultant and now the creator of TikTok, which offers career advice, went through nine rounds of job interviews. She told CNBC that it’s important to make sure you know the compensation on the table.
“You don’t want to end up in a position where you’ve done seven interviews, they offer you the role, and the compensation doesn’t meet your expectations, and the gap is too big to bridge.”
As you go through the lengthy interview process, it’s important to continue to explore other options.
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Consider other jobs and continue to network to keep your options open,” Leitch said.
“Even if you’re far from the interview process for a role, you should always be looking for other roles. It can also give you an advantage in the negotiation process if you are offered the role.”
Researching and interviewing for multiple roles can also help you stay abreast of the changing needs in your industry, Samaraweera added.
If you’re going through multiple rounds of interviews with different people at a company, it’s important to stay consistent when answering similar questions.
“But candidates must also tailor their responses to the particular context and individuals involved,” Leitch said.
Lambert added: “Someone conducting an interview may not be familiar with the previous interview notes – or they may be fully aware of the previous interview and want to see how consistent you are in your answers.”
Here’s how you can approach each round effectively, according to Leitch:
- View previous interactions;
- Tailor responses to audience;
- Demonstrate growth and new insights;
- Use storytelling techniques.
“Ultimately, trust your intuition. If you feel the company is genuinely interested and the role aligns with your aspirations, it may be worth going through the extended interview process,” he added.
“However, it may be best to reevaluate the opportunity if you sense red flags, such as a lack of transparency or disrespect for applicants.”
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