# A three hour interview for an internal job posting. Really? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 27, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744 "2015-02-27T02:57:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/21 "2015-02-28T04:15:32Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > Now I’m kinda thinking three hours isn’t that bad of an idea 🙂 > > Glad you got it down to an hour and good luck. Yeah, I would think that’s the sort of think you’d want to be thorough about. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/22 "2015-02-28T04:57:15Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Hmmm. It has to do with operational quality assurance in a nuclear facility. Don’t want to say much else. Is it in Sector 7-G? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/23 "2015-02-28T05:01:48Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Is it in Sector 7-G? > > 😉 D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/24 "2015-02-28T05:54:25Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Most likely they’ve already contacted your supervisor. At my company we discuss all internal candidates with their existing supervisors. How else would you be able to determine how they are currently performing? You don’t. They are allowed to apply confidentially so that it won’t affect their current job if they don’t get the new one. I was SOME PISSED when I heard that my “confidential” application was mentioned to my current boss. And yes, at our company we have to have the same interview schedule for all applicants so that the process is as fair as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/25 "2015-02-28T06:48:50Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Ha, my last interview (not internal) was scheduled for an hour and went at least three. That behavioral interviewing STAR response stuff. I don’t do behavioral interviews anymore ever since I was dumb enough to go to one for a potential job many years ago. I should have known something was wrong when they called me for not one but two phone interviews that suddenly took a turn for the worst when they turned the tables and started asking extremely detailed technical questions with no friendliness or warning. I passed those so they invited me for an on site interview. Now, I don’t want to hint who this piece of shit and abusive company is but it rhymes with Capital One (the incredibly shady but very large bank headquartered in Virginia). I was invited to an on site interview for a half day which I thought was excessive at the time. That was just a ruse however. They invited several of us that passed the phone screening to go through there own behavioral interview process. I don’t know if many of the people here have ever been through a true behavioral interview. They aren’t conversational at all. The interviewer simply reads a scenario that you may or may not have experienced and you have to talk through it for a specific amount of time (usually about 5 minutes) with no other feedback. If you are done early or don’t have any example of the weird things they are asking, you just have to sit there until the time expires with the interviewer staring at you the whole time. Then, you move on to the next interviewer who does the same thing. Repeat for several hours. Try it yourself sometime. It is extremely unnerving and it tells them nothing of use about job performance but it gives some sadists a nice release. Somehow, I made it through the whole days abuse for those rounds and then they informed me that I made it but other people had too so we had to compete the next day for an even more intense round. No thanks and fuck you very much. I have no idea who these people think they are but I already had money and I am never going going to be treated that way ever again. I interview a lot of people as part of my current and previous jobs. I am always friendly, keep it conversational and go out of my way to give them a chance to show me what the can do with no predetermined set of perfect answers because there is always more than one way to achieve a goal. I absolutely refuse to give behavioral interviews for the same reasons that I don’t work in a concentration camp. I have also learned that any place that has excessive or abusive interviewing practices probably isn’t a place that you want to work at in the first place. I have worked for some of the most successful companies in the world and their interviewing practices were insightful but kind. Abusive interviewing practices are for the wannabees. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/26 "2015-02-28T08:19:50Z")
Good luck. How well do you know the people in this group and how well do they know you? If very well then a three hour interview would be excessive. If not much, then it would be a bit more reasonable. But one is better. We once got stuck with a real loser after a layoff at his location. (I wasn’t involved transferring the guy, but I later got stuck with him.) His manager lied about his competence, so after that I’m a lot more in favor of relatively long internal interviews. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/27 "2015-02-28T11:41:14Z")
> [@glee](#): > > To cheer you up, here’s a true story. My newly-qualified mate was applying for a job and did so well in the interview that they sent for the big boss who asked “How much do we need to offer you so you don’t go to any other interviews?!” I think they learned that one from used car salesmen. The special offer that only the closer can make. Your mate doesn’t ask for any more exotic salary and thinks he is special enough to tell his friends the story. Nothing saves you money on salaries as much as making staff feel “valued.” And good luck\*\* Leaffan\*\*. Imagine just how impressive you can be with 3 hours to let them get to know you. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/28 "2015-03-26T01:50:41Z")
Well, I had the interview yesterday, and it was only a 40 minute round-table exercise with 3 people. Of course I think I did well, although I struggled with the very final question, but what the hey. Fingers crossed. Hang tight. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/29 "2015-03-26T22:39:01Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Now, I don’t want to hint who this piece of shit and abusive company is but it rhymes with Capital One (the incredibly shady but very large bank headquartered in Virginia). Hmmmm…rhymes with Capitol One (the incredibly shady but very large bank headquartered in Virginia). Hmmmm… Nope, drawing a blank. Could you just give us another hint? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/30 "2015-03-27T02:47:41Z")
OP here: I just got back-stabbed by my current manager today. I really need this new position. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/31 "2015-03-27T13:41:33Z")
Oh, good luck. My job has turned into an utter shitshow with literally two weeks shitshow-notice, and I’m crossing my fingers that my ticket out at my dad’s old company is going to ever show up. So I feel your pain. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/32 "2015-03-27T13:52:26Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > OP here: I just got back-stabbed by my current manager today. I really need this new position. _applies large bandage to **Leaffan** ’s back_ I hope you get it, for the sake of your sanity as well as your back. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/33 "2015-03-27T13:52:59Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > OP here: I just got back-stabbed by my current manager today. I really need this new position. I guess the Ides of March gave two weeks notice first! Hope things still work out. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/34 "2015-03-27T16:16:15Z")
I did not have a 3-hour interview, but I had to meet with 10 (!) different people in order to get my current job, an internal position that was not a promotion. Big companies are ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/35 "2015-03-27T16:26:21Z")
Well, it has been three weeks since the interview. You must have some info or insights. Please share them Leaffan. We are on the edge of our seats! And good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/36 "2015-03-27T16:53:32Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Well, it has been three weeks since the interview. You must have some info or insights. Please share them Leaffan. We are on the edge of our seats! > > And good luck! 3 days since the interview. Not 3 weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/37 "2015-05-02T01:44:51Z")
Update: I got the damned job. Things move slowly around here. The letter of offer will come next week. I couldn’t be more chuffed, for a number of reasons. I can’t wait to get away from the hell that is currently my job. Big sigh of relief. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/38 "2015-05-02T02:07:51Z")
Felicidades! Thanks for the update. Been wondering how it was going. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/39 "2015-05-02T02:17:53Z")
Glacier speed up north. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744/40 "2015-05-02T11:08:38Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Glacier speed up north. Apparently. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-three-hour-interview-for-an-internal-job-posting-really/713744.md?page=3)