I would have thought in 2021 companies would say "if it's a 'not sure', then it's a no", but I've worked at some places recently where "not sure" would get additional interviews. That's one problem.
Another problem is in certain companies, senior management don't trust their own staff and want to be involved in the recruitment process.
Yet another problem is poor CV vetting. You really can tell a lot about a candidate just from the CV. Even if (in the UK) an agency has mangled the CV into its own 'template' for companies.
Demonstrating knowledge of algorithms is fine. Having to implement a red-black tree in an interview, or some arcane template corner of C++'s standard library from scratch, is not a good use of anyone's time.
If companies don't keep consistent interview processes, if they have two 'yes' candidates for one role, they can't fairly compare them and choose.
My worst/most lengthy interview was for a certain bank, that famously expects employees to work 12-14 hr days, and weekends. Total interview time: 24 hours. The result boiled down to the MD/partner interviewing me last, and having the yes/no decision.
Another problem is in certain companies, senior management don't trust their own staff and want to be involved in the recruitment process.
Yet another problem is poor CV vetting. You really can tell a lot about a candidate just from the CV. Even if (in the UK) an agency has mangled the CV into its own 'template' for companies.
Demonstrating knowledge of algorithms is fine. Having to implement a red-black tree in an interview, or some arcane template corner of C++'s standard library from scratch, is not a good use of anyone's time.
If companies don't keep consistent interview processes, if they have two 'yes' candidates for one role, they can't fairly compare them and choose.
My worst/most lengthy interview was for a certain bank, that famously expects employees to work 12-14 hr days, and weekends. Total interview time: 24 hours. The result boiled down to the MD/partner interviewing me last, and having the yes/no decision.