Hey FGB!

15 Comments

1. GenesisAugust 9,2025 at 12:39PM UTC

   I haven't necessarily abandoned a job prospect, but across the board if anything takes longer than 2 weeks without communication, I consider it a dead end.

   The amount of interviews varies based on the job level, but I think more than 4 is excessive. One position I was applying for had multiple individual interviews with staff at the second round and then I was ghosted. After meeting with 5 people asking similar questions, it made me question the hiring process, the value of my time, and the overall company.

2. AnonymousAugust 10,2025 at 4:55PM UTC

   Yes, and this is the way it is now. Maybe adjust your expectations to the new market. 2024 was a beast of a year to look, this year started great, however, with all the changes, it's not that great again. You can think it's excessive, they have fewer resources yet need to hire and are particular who they bring in. Not about you, it's the way it is. Employer market. It is very rude on their end, but that's the way it is. Canada has just created a new law as of 2026 where it will be illegal for a company to ghost anyone in their interview processes! It's unfortunately a common phenomenon.

3. AnonymousAugust 9,2025 at 12:44PM UTC

   Over 3

4. AnonymousAugust 10,2025 at 4:52PM UTC

   Not true at all. Companies have instituted much longer interview processes and more people involved since 2024. Best to go with the flow. Of course the level might dictate part of that, but not always.

5. AnonymousAugust 9,2025 at 1:29PM UTC

   I'm in the midst of this!! I got a great offer that requires a move but the pre-employment process and corporate HR are giving me red flags. I may back out.

6. AnonymousAugust 10,2025 at 4:51PM UTC

   ALL companies are like this right now. They don't know what they're doing either, with the constant changes in this market. Great offer and you like your boss, go for it! If they were simply slow with everything, chalk it up. If the red flags are against your ethics or the personality of your new boss, that's different. Congratulations!

7. Dr. Patty GrossAugust 9,2025 at 2:04PM UTC

   If you are seriously searching, you should not abandon your search once you get an interview. Unfortunately, too many companies are "ghosting" applicants rather than sending them the "I'm sorry" message that they didn't get the job. I had one company take three months to make their final decision on a CEO position. During that time, I never stopped looking. The time it takes to offer and the number of interviews depend on the level of the position. The higher the position, the more you can expect of both. Just a note: Director-level and C-suite positions often require approval by the board of directors (which meet monthly or quarterly in some cases), so if you are interviewing for these, it is a good question to ask about the timeline during the interview process.

   One consequence of multitasking your job search is receiving multiple offers, which you can use to negotiate if the job you want the most isn't the highest offer.

8. Maggie SoldanoAugust 10,2025 at 4:09PM UTC

   Boy, they don't make it easy. It's rough out there. But my recommendation is to shift your perspective.

   If they are asking for too many interviews, just see each interview as a rehearsal for the next. If they are taking too long to make a decision, keep looking for other opportunities. It's impossible to know what's going on behind the scenes. Just focus on what you can control.

9. AnonymousAugust 10,2025 at 4:47PM UTC

   Wow, best to understand this market! Not uncommon to apply and not even get scheduled for a phone screen for 2 months. Can go lots of time in between interviews. You can feel ghosted and yet they circle back. there are no rules in this market. Best for you, send the thank you note 1-2 days after the interview, the consistently perform follow up emails on a weekly basis (just a light touch email, letting them know of your strong interest), and KEEP MOVING. Don't abandon anything, just move it to the back burner and keep looking. Not sure when the last time you had to look for work was, but this market has changed radically since '23, especially this year with the constant administration changes, DOGE layoffs, tariff situations, etc. This is an employer market. Stay engaged where you interview without being a pest, but keep looking. It is VERY common to apply to over 200 jobs in this market! Keep a good spreadsheet and calendar (maybe use tealhq.com). More than ever, it is a job to find a job right now. Don't waste energy perseverating over one company, do your duty and on to the next, best attitude. Good luck!

10. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 10,2025 at 11:50PM UTC

    Only you can answer how many is too many for you.

    My criteria is are these interviews making sense. Am I interviewing with people who are advancing the process? Am I learning more about the company, the team, the projects, etc.

    Try to find out what the process will look like at the beginning. Personally, if I was told at the beginning that there would be 9 interviews, a project I had to present - that would be a hard no from me from the get go.

11. Paulla Fetzek, MSEdAugust 11,2025 at 1:07PM UTC

    Hi Yvette!

    I believe you're the only person who can determine any of these answers.

    I've never abandoned a job - but I've only held 3 in my 35-year career.

    If the company isn't following up with you in a regular fashion - even if it's just to say they're still in the process - I think it's time to move on.

    As for your last question, I don't know the number. If you feel you can go on 5 interviews a week, great! Some people may only be able to gear themselves up for 1 or 2.

    All the best!

12. AnonymousAugust 13,2025 at 3:35PM UTC

    Never abandoned, but waited it out. Sometimes never heard back at all. Others sent email of apology stating I was no longer being considered for the position.

    For one company, depending on the level of the position, up to 4 or 5 interviews may be requested. As a Sr. EA, my past two employers had me interview 3 and 2 times respectively, not including the screening call with the company's recruiter/talent acquisition rep.

13. AnonymousAugust 14,2025 at 4:59PM UTC

    Are you asking for yourself or are you doing some research (I ask given that you have 'PHR' in your title so don't know if you are trying to improve processes or if you are personally venting frustration).

    I have not abandoned a job prospect due to length of time for the process. I have also not given up the search while waiting out the process for one job. Don't abandon it, but don't stop looking either.

14. yvette finley PHRAugust 17,2025 at 4:05PM UTC

    I am asking for perspective from the community. My credentials aren’t a factor to gathering the information from other professionals.

    thanks for your feedback!

15. AnonymousAugust 20,2025 at 4:48PM UTC

    If I've had to fill out an ATS, do online assessments, and interview live once, I'd say that should be enough. I might go back for a second interview, depending on how the live one went, but I don't want to go back for a third, especially because I imagine at that time the questioning will be repetitive. So after two live interviews, if there isn't an offer on the table and they just want me to meet with one or more persons who weren't part of the first interview, the answer is no. At that point they know everything they need to know, and anyone who hasn't met me in person can ask the other interviewers for their perspectives. I especially hate "pre-screening" where a senior interviewer waits for some junior person to conduct an initial interview and only decides to interview me after getting the junior person's feedback. It wastes my time. This actually happened to me once, where a recruiter told me how much both people were impressed by me but didn't bother to tell me that the initial interview was a "pre-screening" and I wouldn't get to meet the senior person that day. Making it even worse was that the junior person wasn't actually there when I got to the interview and all I got were blank looks and a request to reschedule. I told the recruiter that I was very unhappy to be treated like that and she brushed me off dismissively.