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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be put off by recruitment process ?

87 replies

Tocontinu · 01/11/2025 18:52

I am going to the recruitment process for a job and already passed two interviews; next one is a presentation for a case study. The company and role seem to be good on paper; but I have a been putt off by this presentation to 3 people. I can’t help thinking that it is a bit over the top; there is one more interview, or perhaps I am being lazy; haven’t had to go through all this rigmarole since I left university. All jobs I have had in the last 20 years the recruitment process has been very straightforward. After the presentation there is still one more interview about values for one hour and another to meet the funders of the company.

I already have an offer for another job which was very straightforward; but wanted to see the other process through before I confirm.

OP posts:

Middlechild3 · 02/11/2025 18:00

Oblomov25 · 01/11/2025 20:01

I wouldn't engage with anyone who wanted 5 or 8 interviews.

Exactly. I would think this is more about HR etc needing to look busy.

Original poster

Tocontinu · 03/11/2025 08:14

Thank you all for the advice.

I have withdrawn from the process and accepted the other offer. Their long recruitment process and case study put me off the role. An hour presentation with multiple questions requires more than the 1.5 hours preparation suggested by then. I spent around 4 hours do far and still not ready for it.

OP posts:

jkjkazcfdspor · 03/11/2025 08:55

I’m sure you feel relieved to have made a decision now OP! Good luck in your new role!

MustTryHarderAndHarder · 03/11/2025 10:31

An hour presentation is ridiculous. If they can't assess you in a 20 minute presentation then they have a big problem.

Tillow4ever · 03/11/2025 11:00

The company I work for has stuff like this, but it tends to all be done over a day - so you’ll have an interview, some sort of group activity, then either a pre-prepared presentation, a case study or a presentation prepared on the day from a title given then with an hour or so to prepare it. This is for ALL levels of the business - the idea being you benchmark for the level of the job. They recruit with the expectation you’ll develop and progress though, so I guess the process helps show who has future potential.

TravellingTotty · 03/11/2025 19:33

Tocontinu · 01/11/2025 22:08

So you think this is normal? For the role and salary.

My concern about the other offer is that is a small company and I may get bored.

Show quote history

Well it is normal in my industry (3 rounds, I’ve heard of 4). But depends what’s normal in yours. If you don’t like it then don’t do it. Best of luck!

TY78910 · 03/11/2025 19:37

Tocontinu · 01/11/2025 19:01

Is this standard process these days for many companies)

Pretty standard, a lot of roles now include a case study presentation. I’ve seen this outlined on company websites when looking in to roles.

DH also interviews candidates for senior positions and back when he was less senior than now he used to do the stages with presentations.

TY78910 · 03/11/2025 19:40

Tocontinu · 02/11/2025 17:46

Thank you. The people I spoke to do far are nice, friendly and professional; I just can’t get pass this case study which seems more like an accounting test; they said not to spend more than an hour and a half and use AI if needed; however I think an hour presentation with multiple questions will require more like 4 hours preparation if you want to do it properly. I completely put me off and I can’t get pass it, and get myself together to do it.

Edited

Show quote history

I have just seen your reply that you’ve withdrawn from the process.

I do however think you’ve been overthinking this presentation a bit too much. They just want to assess your ability to solve a problem or innovate within a task or team. It really doesn’t differ much from just answering a question. Only you have visual cues to help you.

Original poster

Tocontinu · 05/11/2025 12:03

HundredMilesAnHour · 02/11/2025 14:19

Their presentation format does seem to be incredibly OTT with its multiple sections and questions. What exactly are they trying to test here? It looks like they’ve given zero thought to the actual candidate experience and are solely thinking about what they need to find out.

I wrote on one of my earlier posts about my current employer/dept doing case study interviews. When I was interviewed by them 6 years ago, my case study interview consisted of me being given one sentence on a piece of paper at the start of the session and then being left alone in the room for 20 mins with a flipchart to gather my thoughts and write up what I was going to present. They came back, I presented and they asked questions which I answered. It was a little pressurised but at least it meant I didn’t have to do any preparation.

These days we’re a little more sophisticated and have more detailed case study scenarios that the interview panel (usually 2 people) select (and may tailor) for each candidate if/when they pass the screening interview but there is no expectation on the candidate to do any preparation. I much prefer that approach. We combine this 20-30 mins of case study with 30 mins of deep dive into their c.v./experience. Our corporate values are a fundamental part of any interview so we don’t need to test that separately.

Thank you all.

I ended pulling out at the end as I was running out of time to confirm the other offer; I also felt the case study and presentation was a big long and definitely required more than the 1.5 hours preparation they suggested. I spent around 3 hours and It wasn’t ready. I was also away on holidays and this plus jetlag didn’t help.

I felt it was the right company and role but timings didn’t work unfortunately. It is a newly created role and I don’t think the case study was thought properly. According to the internet preparing for an hour presentation takes at least 10 hours or more, so I don’t think is me being slow.

I was honest and gave them feedback on the case study.

I feel bad about missing the opportunity as I think I was a strong candidate and I don’t think the role I accepted is the right role for me.

OP posts:

topcat2014 · 05/11/2025 13:48

How the buggeration is anyone supposed to keep all that time off a secret from current employers?

IDontHateRainbows · 05/11/2025 13:53

Tocontinu · 05/11/2025 12:03

Thank you all.

I was honest and gave them feedback on the case study.

I feel bad about missing the opportunity as I think I was a strong candidate and I don’t think the role I accepted is the right role for me.

Edited

Show quote history

There's so much that's affected by timing in going for a new job. In some ways it's akin to a lottery, in terms of who else is on the market and which opportunities offer first and are out of synch with other opportunities which may offer a bit later (but too late to stall it)

We like to think we are in control, and focus on the bits we can control such as interview technique, but I'd say most of getting a new job is complete random chance!

jkjkazcfdspor · 05/11/2025 13:55

topcat2014 · 05/11/2025 13:48

How the buggeration is anyone supposed to keep all that time off a secret from current employers?

I’m also intrigued as to how the staff themselves have enough time to conduct all of that! I find recruiting with just a 2 stage process is enough of a time sucker!

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