I need to vent because this is getting ridiculous.

I’ve been in a hiring process for months. Multiple interviews — recruiter screen, hiring manager, senior leadership. Then a full-on onsite where I met the team, got a tour, and we even talked about onboarding like I was about to start.

After that? Background check. Credit check. References ready. Assessments. The whole circus.

And now — NOW — I’m being told they’re doing internal interviews. Hahahahahah

At this stage?? I’m sorry, but what are we doing here? If internal candidates were even remotely in the mix, why am I being pulled through the entire process like I’m the guy?

It feels like companies want a “backup external candidate” fully prepped just in case they don’t like their internal options. So they drag you all the way to the finish line, invest your time, get your hopes up… and then casually pivot.

Meanwhile, I’ve been out here grinding for a year+, dealing with rejection after rejection, and this is the one process that actually felt real.

I get that internal mobility is a thing — that’s fine. But running external candidates through final stages while still “considering internal options” feels incredibly disrespectful.

At some point, there has to be a line where companies decide: Either prioritize internal candidates first or commit to external ones you’ve already invested in not both at the same time, at the very end. Anyone else dealing with this? Or am I just getting insanely unlucky?