Job Market Reality Check

Recently, I interviewed a senior individual about their job hunting experience after 8 months, 50+ interviews, and interactions with 10+ companies. What they shared is quite eye-opening and worth sharing with my fellow Grapeviners to stay informed about the current market trends.

There's a concerning trend of false interviews or what some might call "candidate fishing." Companies seem dissatisfied with many candidates they encounter initially, leading to rejections for trivial reasons or minor interview slip-ups. This indicates an oversupply of candidates in the market.

Most companies have multiple candidates lined up for each job role, creating unnecessary backups. Consequently, last-minute job offer declines are not uncommon, even after successfully navigating through all interview rounds.

The interview process itself can be lengthy, ranging from one to two months, with interviews scheduled during weekends, late nights, and early mornings becoming more common.

Some common reasons for rejection include:

1. Diversity hiring concerns
2. Expectations of being a master of everything
3. Common interview formats with overwhelming ratios like 2:1, 3:1, or 4:1, putting candidates on the spot
4. Companies adopting a "Why should we not hire you?" mindset
5. Scrutiny over resume details, such as short job stints, despite ongoing industry layoffs
6. Negative assumptions about candidates from top tech companies (FAANG) looking for new roles
7. Rejections after multiple rounds (7-10 rounds) of interviews
8. Ghosting becoming a prevalent issue

If you're experiencing these challenges, remember that you're not alone. Many others are facing similar issues. Hang in there; the tide will eventually turn.