How many rounds of interview and tests do you guys typically go through for a junior role?
As my contract job was ending in March this year, I began applying for various roles and I was quite lucky to receive an invitation from a reputable MNC for a first round of interview in end February. The first interview was conducted in early March. All went well and a second interview was arranged in the end of March which I went for it in the same week. I was quite surprised to clear the second interview and I thought that this should be all and I can start work with them in April after a medical screening but I was wrong.
However, as I thought that I can start work with them soon, I have to complete 3 different questionnaires (consisting of a personality questionnaire, shiftwork tolerance, occupational preferences questionnaire), 1 online ability assessment and a structured interview before I can proceed to the background check and medical screening.
I passed the various questionnaires and an conditional offer was being made to me in early April and if everything goes well, I can start work in mid April. At the same time, this MNC had engaged a company to proceed with the background check for me and I was quite surprised with how detailed they wanted.
Not only they wanted references from my latest employer (I did my traineeship and contract role with them so I spent about 3 years in total with them), they also wanted a reference from my previous company which I had left 3 years ago. Quite surprised by this, I tried to reach out to my ex-supervisor but he just blue-ticked me and an email sent by the background check company to him was ignored. As such, I had to provide a new reference from my latest employer.
All these delay had caused my first day of work to be delayed, from mid April to May, and there was still nothing given to me about my onboarding details. Email messages to HR were ignored and I am quite stuck now.
Is it normal to go through so much for a junior role? I had ~2-3 years of relevant experience in the industry and my previous roles (traineeship, contract roles) doesn’t require me to go through so many hoops and I was quite annoyed and puzzled by so many tests and the extreme detailed background check that I need to go through. To add on, in this new role I am an individual contributor and do not have to take up any supervisory responsibilities.