I must have heard this phrase dozens of times since I started my career in recruiting. For a senior management position or for a person who is unemployed and actively seeking such a situation does not usually pose a problem, but for other types of positions and / or for the candidate who is currently employed it may - to be a lot more problematic. Not to mention the fact that there may be different tests (technical, medical, psychometric, etc.) to be taken in addition to the interviews. Our role, as a recruitment specialist, is to reduce as much as possible the delays related to recruitment while respecting our client's recruitment process. But at the end of the day, we don't have the last word.

It is important to remember that the first interview is generally intended to assess the quality and relevance of your application in general. During the second interview, the direct manager of the position will present the position to you as precisely as possible, to ensure that you fully understand the current issues and the main challenges to be met. He will also want to validate if you correspond to the profile sought, both for the technical aspect and for your personality. The third interview may aim to make you meet other members of the management team or to meet your future colleagues in order to see the general atmosphere emerging from this meeting. It will also be an opportunity to come back to the second interview and see if you have any questions. In addition, it can also often allow a more serious discussion with the manager or the HR department about the compensation component, vacations, insurance, possible start dates, etc.

That being said, what to do when you are called for a 4th interview and the recruitment process seems to be interminable? First of all, I believe that it is harmful and unnecessary to want to skip steps and try to bypass the recruitment process in force at the company. This could be interpreted (rightly or wrongly) by the company as a lack of interest on your part. Simply refusing to attend this 4th interview will result in you getting out of the recruitment process, almost automatically. Is this the result you are looking for?
Rather, I advise you to be honest with the employer, to present your point of view transparently and to inform yourself about the purpose of this fourth interview, to ask if the process is drawing to a close and if your application really interests them. . It may be worth reminding them that your time is precious and / or that you are running out of reasons to justify your absences with your current employer. You can also ask to group the remaining stages in the same day in order to accommodate you. The idea here is to demonstrate that you have an interest in the position while emphasizing that the recruiting process needs to come to an end quickly.

The serious employer will understand your situation and will be able to be understanding and accommodating. He will know how to justify his long recruitment process and keep you in the process. On the other hand, if the employer struggles to give you information on the purpose of this fourth interview and on the real interest of your application and / or on the purpose of the recruitment process, he may be advised. to reconsider your application for the position or to be explicit about the fact that this constitutes for you the last stage of recruitment.