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Interview Fatigue

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Interview Fatigue

I was laid off and am job hunting for the first time in six years. I am amazed at how much things have changed. I have been lucky enough to land interviews..but so far, that is it! No job offers yet. I have been interviewing since July. It seems to be the norm that I will interview 2, if not 3 or 4 times with the same company! It’s as if no one wants to make a decision as to hiring a candidate. I believe it’s called “analysis paralysis” . My last job hunt, six years ago, I had one phone interview and one in person interview, then was hired. And while I would understand this for a more professional position such as mine, but my nephew recently had to do 2 interviews for a bus boy position! This is getting ridiculous. These employers are out of control. Anyone else getting fatigued from all the interviews?

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  1. Anonymous

    I don’t get it. I’ve even just skipped over HR and met directly with the hiring manager and team. But some companies do a whole dog and pony show. (Looking at you Netflix)

  2. Anonymous

    I do agree with you because in the past this current trend has put me off. For a bus boy position is definitely ridiculous. A lot of positions even though they can lead to leadership positions, the quality of those positions aren’t really worth it that much beyond the paycheck. Even the position that appear to be worth it have long term disadvantages to our health. Most people don’t recognize how their jobs are killing them.

    You say these employers are out of control. I think they like the control in this process. In their process the candidates are chosen due to the ways the company knows they’ll be able to control them. Your interview fatigue is valid and I hope it keeps you thinking about what it is that YOU want out of career and you may have to find a creative work around to get there. I don’t see myself working multiple years, doing the bidding of a company, that doesn’t represent my values. The prestige of passing multiple interviews for a job can wear off as well when recognizing what is lost also.

  3. Anonymous

    Well said. I myself am in a career transition phase and a recipient to interview fatigued and ghosting (or worse, ghosting then reappearing a short time later. It's as though they have no value for your time. I understand two interviews and a prescreen, however 5 and 6 interviews equates to an 8 hour shift. Ironically, I ended up turning down a position that did this for a job that I felt valued me and my time as well as a more positive company culture

  4. Anonymous

    Both these potential employers and lousy recruiters have absolutely no regard or respect to our time/energy or situation. That's truly how things are today.

  5. Anonymous

    I do agree with you--but not ALL of us are cut out to have our own businesses/ventures. Hence, the motivation TO work for a company/corporation. But I guess trying to start a small business WHILE pursuing interviews doesn't hurt. But there is an initial cost to starting a business and many people may not have that monetarily.

  6. Anonymous

    I've had the same challenge, but for senior director roles! One company told me, after 6 interviews, I wasn't enough of a winner, and the job was reposted. After 4 interviews with another company, they decided to lower the level of the position. After 8 interviews with another, I was completely ghosted. I reached out to the hiring manager and the HR person 3 times each with no response. Only writing to say you're not alone.

  7. Anonymous

    Absolutely not alone. Challenging job market and long interview cycles. Stick with it and think creatively by connecting with your personal network.

  8. GirlBossanova934974

    Can't say much about this since we don't know what sort of jobs you are applying for and what part of the country you are in. Remote jobs? Hybrid? in Office? My conclusion after this job market is that companies are NOT hiring the best candidates. They are hiring the SAFE candidates. And SAFE means the candidate offends or concerns the LEAST amount of interviewers or NO is offended at all. And that can be hard to find. Next, hiring managers are only hiring people who are beneath them in terms of talent and experience. Job security is very much in doubt so that is what you get. Last as always when times get a little lean, companies look to hire the ONE TRICK PONY aka so called subject matter experts in X and NOTHING ELSE. Of course, that means it takes 10 people in a room to make a peanut and jelly sandwich but companies are simply not paying attention to that huge cost factor. The message? NO ONE better rock the boat aka upset the gravy train.

  9. Anonymous

    Yes, you are right I totally agree with you when you say this is getting ridiculous. The company I'm employed with make you go through 4 interviews, which is just insane to me. I would like to know why is this necessary. I do get fatigues from all the interviews.

  10. Anonymous

    The fatigue is real and self care is a MUST. I just landed a role after 1 year and 15 days after my layoff. 9 interviews plus a presentation! I was shocked I was used to 3 maybe 4 tops interviews. I have no advice for the job market except take one day at a time.

  11. Barbara

    Wow. Thats a journey! Good for you for hanging in there. I hope you’re enjoying your job.

  12. Anonymous

    This x 1000. I have a professional degree (think MBA, JD, etc.), and had a total of three interviews for that job. One was an initial interview, one was a mock presentation (which made sense because that was representative of my daily work), and there was a final interview with a supervisor. They were spread out over time, but involved an onsite investment of about three hours total.

    Life and career changes happen, and I find myself a decade and a half later in this surreal place where I’m writing essays, doing initial hour long interviews, then doing interview panels and loops? It’s as if the punishment for switching careers is spending 5-6 hours interviewing for jobs that pay about what my friend’s 17 year old daughter is making at the mall (but with benefits).

  13. Anonymous

    Sadly, you are spot on about the state of the hiring process. I have no idea what to do about this but good luck.

  14. Anonymous

    Yes we right there with you…not to mention the countless applications we take time to complete only to get no followup. I’m not sure why the job search and interview processes became so much more complicated but I guess we just need to keep up with the times and put our best foot forward. I do hope, employers start thinking less mechanically and more like humans.

  15. Anonymous

    Agreed. Also, the interview processes/questions are set up more like interviewees trying to prove themselves to be a great candidate when the resume, cover letters, and recommendation letters should already exemplify our past work and skills. An interview between the employer and employee should feel like an organic conversation about how both can be of great benefit to one another not the interviewee feeling intimidated by a panel or challenging questions back to back, or being told about how high the expectations will be for the role. Hiring managers/HR- Please give people, who do well on a first and/or second interview, a chance to learn and grow with your company and see just how valuable that can be for business.

  16. Anonymous

    I agree - but many companies won't do this and their HR mgrs truly don't know how to hire, or vet. Many are shortsighted and just want to place the candidate under a microscope and even sit in front of 3-4 people asking redundant questions.

  17. Anonymous

    It took me 11 months before I started to land consulting work. The market this year is absolute sh#t. Despite record earnings, companies continue to do layoffs (gotta keep those shareholders happy). Fake postings, recruiters trolling for resumes trying to keep busy and managers wanting to hire inexperienced candidates despite the job description requiring 10+ years. It's not just you.

  18. Anthony T. Brooks

    Be grateful that you are landing interviews. The job offer will come.

  19. OLIVIA JOHNSON

    Hi there!

    This is a great assessment of your journey so far in the job search and interview process. Huge kudos to you for securing interviews and moving through the various rounds. One point of clarification would be, if they are getting to final rounds and then not making a decision at all or if they go through various rounds and then select another candidate (you can confirm by seeing if the posting has been removed, or even check LinkedIn for the role and see if someone was hired).

    IF it is the later, and they are going with other candidates, then I would consider some interview coaching on the stage of interviews where things usually stand still. For example, if the final round is where things go silent, which usually may be the Executive/Executive Panel, I would then look into some coaching or research tips specific to this area. Interviewing with Executives is different than prior stages. Executives are considered the visionaries of the organization. They think high level and usually are brought into interviews to assess your fit within the company culture or your ability to deliver impact (not necessarily your skills already assessed in prior interview stages). Real life example would be in questions asked...instead of asking about the expectations of the role (which would be better suited to ask in a Hiring Manager interview), it would be best to ask how they see this role bringing impact to the organization as a whole. This way it is assessed that you want to see the success of the company as well as yourself.

    This is just one example of the difference in an Executive Interview. So based on the stage where things fall off, I would recommend honing in on that specific interview type.

    Hope this helps!

    Coach Olivia

  20. Anonymous

    I agree . I am going through the same thing. Interviewing 3-4/x with same company and then ghosted and not offered the job. This has been going on since May 2021! I am defiantly fatigued and open to any advice in getting through this

  21. Eva Steortz

    What you are experiencing is the new norm. A lot of my clients have to interview multiple times and do a mock project and present it. It's incredibly competitive at all levels these days. Stay strong. Network. Follow up with a lot of flair after your interviews. It takes a lot to break through. Be bold. :)

  22. Anonymous

    Those mock projects are extortion of desperate applicants. I was asked once to prepare an extensive marketing plan for the interview. I told them I don't work for free.

  23. Nia Designz

    Definitely, I am feeling it. Trusting God to help me with this episode in my life. But the anxiety is overwhelming.

  24. Anonymous

    The market at the moment is flooded in some areas with exceptional talent. Additionally thanks to the pandemic and many tech companies automating the process they have eliminated much of the real interviews that get to the net of your qualifications quickly. Instead many have adopted a 3-4 or even 10 part interview process with tests and homework etc. It is not the right way to find a qualified candidate. A well defined interview where you speak to the candidate about their past and how it aligns with what you are hiring them to do is. I blame budgets, weak inexperienced hiring managers, and ill equipped talent staff who often are overwhelmed by demands from HM that are unrealistic. I have worked in talent for more than 30 years and it's truly a sad state we are in right now. My best hires through the years were done in 30 minutes to a one hour conversation and one similar time slot with a hiring manager and one peer. Done and done....

    Give it some time friend, it may take 6-9 months this time through and go in wit questions of your own about their style and how they interact post hire or you may find yourself working in a place where the treadmill goes in circles and no decisions ever get made. Assess your side of the street deeply and be sure to dig in hard on why you should consider them. Be a bit aloof vs too eager and share what they have to gain and from them find out what you have to gain too. Good luck.

  25. OLIVIA JOHNSON

    Here's a link to a post on interview stages https://fairygodboss.com/community-discussion/KSf-pDgEk/tips-for-multi-round-interviews

  26. Anonymous

    I am finding the same thing. I have been in the interview process with a company since the beginning of July and had what was supposed to be the final interview 2 weeks ago but I still have not heard anything about being selected. Another company I was interviewing with took almost 2 months plus I had to present a project as a part of the interview process and I was not selected.

  27. Anonymous

    It is the new norm right now since there is an over supply of workers looking for jobs. I had a 3 month interview process that started with a recruiter interview then HireVue (me being recorded giving answers to arbitrary questions), then 4 interviews, skills assessment, leadership assessment, and present a project… only for the job to be put on hold/cancelled. It is brutally ridiculous out there!

  28. Anonymous

    I had the same job 14 years. I’ve been out of work since January I get so many interviews but no job offers. I don’t get it. I’ve even lowered my salary.

  29. Anonymous

    And then I see there are people employed who want to do next to nothing! These are the people employers choose to keep, while laying off solid, hardworking people with strong work ethics. I work a hybrid schedule, and have witnessed and know for a fact, that they do little or sign off early, arrive late, use working from home and abuse that "perk". It truly amazes me the people who are kept on board, while having really solid people looking to work.

  30. Anonymous

    This is the new norm. I work in healthcare and have a very complete resume and excellent references. My skill set is in demand. Ten years ago, I could go in for one interview and receive a job offer. I have applied 42 different positions in the same hospital system in the last two years, Both times I went on multiple interviews and zoom meetings... Only to be told that the hospital had changed its plans and was putting the position on hold. I don't think there is any easy answer... It doesn't matter any more if you have excellent references.Or are personally known by the organization. I ended up creating my own business and have been working self employed 3 years, But.

    Even That has proven to be a bit disastrous.And I recently lost a huge contract to a corporate group. Try to do some volunteer work one day a week for an organization you believe in... I have found that meeting new people outside of my industry and doing something to help.Someone else takes my mind off the brutality of this process. You might even make a connection and land a job through your volunteerism!! Good luck!!!

  31. Anonymous

    So - it seems it's an employer's market right now--although I keep hearing that many businesses can't find people who WANT to work. So a bit confusing. Perhaps that relates to the hospitality industry - with low paying jobs - working in fast-food chains. Either way, it's quite competitive and many of these recruiters are not much help. I have a friend that has been looking for a similar position where she has been laid off from since March..now going on 8 months. When I was laid off in Oct 2020 during the height of the Pandemic...I was relentless in my search. So I know the frustration, concern as it's a scary time when you solely depend on yourself especially to survive. This is why since then, I secured work which I really like (it's administrative) but I'm OK with that...and I also secured 2 side gigs!! Many people have been unsupportive about my working extra side gigs--but I don't care. I put away that extra income - just in case I get laid off again!! You can be an exceptional employee, and do everything by the book and STILL be let go. It's all politics in the office/corporate world. Right or wrong, that's what it is like today. ZERO loyalty. Works both ways--so I do what is best for ME. I empathize with those looking as I was there too! During lockdown no less, quite exhausting...and then you have thoughtless recruiters asking you "so what have you been doing since the layoff"?? WELL, I have been looking for work - which is a full time JOB. Recruiters are part of the problem these days.

  32. Anonymous

    While I was laid off, I landed an interview at Facebook, through a personal connection of course. I didn't get hired there, and in hindsight probably best that I didn't. One day you are completely solid and working and being productive and cooperative etc and the next you are on the chopping block. With corporate America, there are no guarantees...It has NOTHING to do with work ethic, which truly is disheartening.

  33. Anonymous

    And you are correct in saying - that a large percentage of people truly do NOT like what they do - and are NOT qualified or have the skillset to thrive at their current positions, and think outside the box, and learn processes on their own! After they are hired, they struggle, and don't use common sense to excel at what they do, yet they were hired!! Speaks volumes about HR/mgmt's abilities and/or motivations. And yes, a master BS artist can and will get hired and probably do the very least, just punch in hours - and even arrive late and leave early - yet they will remain employed. Amazing, isn't it? How knowing the right people make all the difference in the world. Yet there are great candidates who have all the qualities needed for some positions, yet are overlooked. Can we say "Nepotism"?

  34. Dawn McDonnell

    This is happening in all jobs & all ages. I have young adult kiddos & friends young in there 40’s through 60’s & entrepreneurs thriving in their 80’s-90’s.

    I’m telling you this so you don’t get down on yourself.

    Ie SAP job for 24 yr old who worked with them in college, For 4yrs kept in touch. Opening came in NYC- One opening. 8 interviews! Phone , phone, Zoom Zoom, in person for 1:2 hr, in person with a team , in person for 15 min. Call back. Then final offer .

    My son ? Data analytic - Schoenfeld . 6 interviews- took 2 months.

    Sometimes the jobs are FAKE!

    One position available in a global economy-

    Don’t give up. Unemployment #s are up , They don’t give u the real numbers. Why? The government changed the formulas.

    Consider your skills? Start your own. Consulting , LLC while u look.

  35. daniel dresen

    I started my job hunting in January, after my mom's funeral. I THOUGHT I landed a full time job but was asked to do something illegal and ignored it. (I'm not letting a student harm themselves). So I'm back again, job hunting, and not only am I interview fatigued... I'm application fatigued. How many times do I have to type the same information? Just read the resume. Why have a resume and MULTIPLE applications??

  36. Rebecca Ruettiger

    I have been laid off for a year and not only do I have to do 3 to 4 rounds of interviewing plus panel interviewing I have to submit written work samples and still don’t get the job. It’s not great.

  37. Anonymous

    It is the employer's market now and so, this is becoming more common. Don't be disheartened. You are more senior now and this is expected.

  38. Jennifer Jenkins-Lampert

    I’m so tired of talking about me. I’m even sick of me.

  39. Nancy Stein-Pizzo

    Keep trying. You'll land that job. :)

  40. Anonymous

    Same thing happened to me. I was laid off a job in which I was with the company for 7years. I’ve had multiple interviews and currently awaiting a job similar to my last but yes it was two interviews. Even thought of getting a low ended position just until better arrives and even them were acting like they give star upscale. I couldn’t believe the job market. They rather stay under staff than find the right person on a timely manner. I’m at this point in trying to find anything. Bills doesn’t stop.

  41. Anonymous

    I've been out of a job since last November! I have applied to 315 jobs and I've had about 3 interviews. All went south for one reason or another.

    Now I'm ready to take anything too.

    Bills keep coming.

  42. Krista Coutts

    I am right there with you! Recently went through 6 interviews...along the way the company asked if I was interested in other positions they had posted...while I didn't get the job I originally interviewed for...the other position they spoke to me about...now they are going in a "different direction." Interview fatigue...is the right phrase. Good luck to all of us!

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