UA F2F is Rigged?
This is my personal opinion based on my experience attending the F2F, so take it for what it’s worth!
I believe there are two groups of people invited to the F2F. Group 1 consists of candidates recruiters are seriously considering for hire and want to evaluate further in person. Group 2 consists of candidates who performed reasonably well throughout the process but, for whatever reason, may not be the ones recruiters ultimately intend to move forward with. I suspect these candidates are there as “fillers,” so to speak. Of course, there’s no way to know for sure which group you fall into, so don’t stress yourself out trying to figure it out. Focus on presenting yourself professionally and enjoy the experience!
Once you check in, you’re divided into two different smaller groups. My theory is that this allows recruiters to strategically distribute the candidates they’re most interested in so they can observe them more closely. Rather than evaluating everyone equally, they mix fillers in so they can focus on how specific candidates interact with others, carry themselves, and handle the assessments without making it obvious that those individuals are solely being observed.
Honestly, I find it hard to believe that a recruiter observing an entire group could thoroughly evaluate every single person, take meaningful notes, and determine who should advance to the 1:1 in less than 10minutes. My impression was that the recruiter already knew which candidates they wanted to see in the 1:1 and was primarily observing those individuals.
All of this is to say that if you made it to the F2F but didn’t receive a 1:1, please don’t automatically assume you did something wrong. You may have performed perfectly well and simply not been among the candidates they were prioritizing for the next step. I know it’s frustrating to walk away wondering what you could have done differently, but don’t beat yourself up trying to figure out what went wrong when there may not have been anything you did wrong at all.
That said, even if you’re selected for the 1:1, you’re not guaranteed a CTO! Some candidates made it to the 1:1 and still left without one. So, if you get that opportunity, stay focused, remain professional, and bring your A-game right up until the very end.
Overall, I had a great experience! I honestly feel like I overprepared for what the F2F actually involved, but I’m incredibly happy that I received my CTO! 🎉
I also want to be transparent: I don’t feel like I did anything particularly spectacular at the F2F that necessarily set me apart from others who didn’t make it to the 1:1. However, I do feel that my virtual 1:1 went exceptionally well, and I suspect that played a significant role in my selection. My impression is that the F2F was an opportunity for them to confirm their initial impression of me and see how I performed in person during the assessments.
Ultimately, this is just my interpretation of the process based on my own experience, not something I can confirm about United’s actual selection procedures. My biggest piece of advice is to prepare, present yourself professionally, remain engaged throughout the process, and enjoy the experience. You’ve already made it this far, and that’s something to be proud of! ❤️