u/OfSkillJob

Not even talking about one specific company here, just something I keep noticing more recently.

A lot of hiring processes now seem extremely long for pretty normal roles --

multiple interviews, assignments, long waiting periods, culture rounds, final rounds.

Meanwhile candidates are expected to stay motivated, confident and available through entire process while usually applying/interviewing elsewhere too.

At some point it starts feeling less like “finding the best candidate” and more like testing who can mentally survive the process longest 😭

Still Curious if others feel hiring became more exhausting compared to few years ago.

I have noticed something weird over time.

The more rejections and ghosting someone goes through, the more they start overthinking simple interview questions and losing confidence, even when they actually have the skills.

At first interviews feel normal, but after months of applying, it starts becoming a loop - bad experience --- less confidence -- worse interview --- more overthinking.

Has anyone else gone through this? What actually helped you get out of it?

I genuinely think a lot of freshers/job seekers are not failing because they are “bad”.

They’re just exhausted now.

At beginning people apply with energy and confidence.

Then after months of ghosting, rejections, fake openings, 5-round interviews, “we’ll get back to you” mails etc something changes mentally.

You start noticing stuff like:

* people becoming scared of interviews

* candidates apologizing for small resume gaps

* good candidates underselling themselves

* people feeling “behind in life” at 21-24

And weirdly the moment someone finally gets 1 opportunity, their confidence suddenly comes back again.

That’s why I feel the current hiring process is affecting people mentally way more than companies realize.

Anyone else noticing this too or am I overthinking it?