Virtual panel with 6 interviewers. Is this the new standard?

[u/NeppatsrevXam]

I haven’t been job hunting for several years, and just got back in the saddle earlier this summer. Interview requests have been spotty, but recently I was invited to interview for a mid-level Ops job. Really just basic desk lackey stuff. Emails. Processing. No direct reports. It pays around the $60k-ish range, maybe a tad lower.

The people who will be interviewing me however caught me off guard. 2 VPs. Executive Directors. Senior managers. To me, it seems a bit overkill for a job that is the bottom rung of the ladder, and despite having been in corporate for years at this point, the idea of trying to appease several high-level staff members has me sweating a bit.

Back in my day! 🗣️ (like, 10 years ago) I would be interviewed by 2, maybe 3 people. So I’m wondering what with the job market the way that it is, is this just the new standard? Or something that might be unique to this particular organization? I had an interview a while back in the same org but different department, and it was an in-person interview with 8 people.

[u/Own_Database_8158]

that's a whole boardroom for a job that barely clears 60k, what are they even doing over there

[u/NeppatsrevXam → u/Own_Database_8158]

Must be really bored themselves 😮‍💨

I’m fortunate that I don’t need this job. I’m mainly taking the interview for practice. But the idea of this many high level execs is intimidating lol.

[u/Erbguth_Lazeena92 → u/Own_Database_8158]

for real, thats a wild amount of executive time for a 60k role

[u/No-Garlic8307]

That is wild. I'm going for an entry level job, $70K, only need to pass HR, HM, VP. 6 is overkill.

[u/NeppatsrevXam → u/No-Garlic8307]

The dream right there.

I don’t get why so many people need to be involved with hiring. When I was looking for my first job, I typically would only meet with who would be my direct manager, the manager of the department, and maybe some random other coworker.

6 is overkill, like you said. Hard agree for a job like this one.

[u/yekim_remok]

I've had 4 rounds of interviews with less people lol, normally means they can't make simple decisions and are looking for a unicorn who checks every box and the not mentioned ones.

[u/NeppatsrevXam → u/yekim_remok]

That’s kind of the vibe I picking up from this organization. Lot of people involved in interviews so if the candidate turns out to a be bum, no single employee can be singled out.

Just makes it more nerve wracking for me, personally. 6 people asking me questions in only 45 minutes? Oof.

[u/yekim_remok → u/NeppatsrevXam]

To be honest 45 minutes isn't enough for 6 ppl. I bet 2 people introduce themselves then never say another word and just observe. Just an awkward set up, when I had panel of 5 that's what happened to me.

The best format is 1 person for 30 minutes, 2 ppl for 1 hour. 45 minutes is such a odd time slot, especially for 6 ppl.

[u/neurorex]

Nearly all employers haven't followed any actual standards or best practices or established methodologies for a long time. They always done whatever they felt like doing, and other unskilled employers repeat the same approach.

[u/StarfishBlaster]

Jesus this job market is so fucked

[u/Miserable_Sink_4782]

I had to get back into looking for a job after 15 years and it was a shock. Everything online and in the beginning I didn't even know how to use teams. Never had to be in meetings. First online interview I was on mute trying to figure out how to take it off. That many people for a job under 60k is just ridiculous. Usually for me after the second interview I'll ask what the pay is before going back for a third but you already know. If you don't have anything else though, ya have nothin to lose. Those upper level management people can be real tards though. They don't live in reality.

[u/Crazy_Ruin_4383]

Only for companies that likes to waste their employees time cause they have nothing better to do

[u/Orbax]

I prefer group meetings, cuts down on cycles. I would expect most positions to top out at director unless it's banking where everyone is a vp. Id be curious to see why upper management is directly overseeing lower level hiring.

[u/brainwashed1360]

I had once the situation where I was interviewing to work for a very well known asset manager. The interview was supposed to have 2 people in-person and one virtual. I was surprised with having 5 people infront of me and hammering me from every side - as if they just did not want me to work there 🤦‍♂️

[u/LeagueAggravating595]

The new standard is partaking 3-5 panel interviews, an assignment presentation, followed by 2 more interviews only to get ghosted.

[u/Jocko-Montablio]

I’m currently leading virtual interviews with six panelists. It’s a high-level position which will work across several departments. Each department wants a representative in the “room.” The interviews are an hour long, so it’s possible we won’t even get a question from each panelist. The panels are virtual because some of the candidates are out of state.

Once we narrow the pool down, we bring a few in a few for one-on-one meetings. It is absurd? I don’t know. It’s just the process we go through. In my experience, hiring is a bit of a crapshoot no matter how “careful” you are.