Job candidate pulls application after 8 interviews and when company demands ‘just one more’, shuts hiring manager down with a better offer: ‘Sorry it didn’t work out'

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Cata Holmes • Writer
Aug 26, 2026 1:45 PM EDT

Job interviews can reach an extreme point where they feel like a full-time job you're not even getting paid for.

The people who are currently in the job market can confirm that it has gone insane. From the company's side, they know there're a lot of candidates for a single position, so they take the time to analyze and to interview all of them, and for the candidates, the wait can get so long without an offer that they end up feeling discouraged.

I don't really know the reason behind this, but certainly, it has turned into a very complicated game in which getting an offer sounds almost impossible. But I don't want to let anybody down… I'm here to deliver some positivity in this landscape and maybe share some helpful advice. 

Or, at least, I'll try to get you something positive out of here!

In the story you're about to read, a candidate endured four rounds and eight interviews just to get him… absolutely nothing. But the worst part of all is that the company told him he was a perfect fit from the first day, and even made two false promises about an offer letter that never came. Because he knew that this was going to take a long time, we started having interviews in other places, hopefully, some more serious companies.

He ended up receiving an offer letter, but sadly, had to renounce the remote chance of getting the position in the first company, which sounded great and had some good referrals. When they told the hiring manager that he was going to accept this offer, they tried to convince him to have "just one more interview", but he knew where this was heading. If they were able to top that offer, then he was willing to accept it. But I guess the company was not really interested and told him it was not possible.

Sounds crazy to me that after eight interviews, they weren't able to provide an offer letter or any type of response… I don't know where the job market is heading with this type of hiring manager.

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  • A hiring manager interviews a job candidate in an office during another round of interviews.
    via Unsplash+ (via Vitaly Gariev)

    A hiring manager interviews a job candidate in an office during another round of interviews.

    Scene is illustrative and does not depict actual individuals or events.

  • I decided to share my nightmare interview experience. A while back I applied for a role that sounded super intrested and had a great referral.
    via Specific-Option5123
  • The initial HR screen hiring manager and SVP calls all went amazingly well and they said I was a perfect fit.
    via Specific-Option5123
  • I did 4 rounds and 8 seperate interviews with various VPs and Presidents. Despite being promised an offer twice, they turned around and told me I had to meet yet another business unit President
    via Specific-Option5123
  • got an offer within 2 months and cleared my background check while company #1 was still dragging their feet. I emailed HR and the hiring
    via Specific-Option5123
  • manager respectfully withdrawing my candidacy due to the ridiculous timeline and broken promises.
    via Specific-Option5123
  • The hiring manager emailed me back ten minutes later saying it was "just one more interview." I told him I'd only entertain it if they could beat my new offer and laid out my new title
    via Specific-Option5123
  • sign-on bonus and comp which was honestly higher than what he was making as my potential boss.
    via Specific-Option5123
  • He immediately backed down and said "sounds like you got a great deal, sorry it didn't work out."
    via Specific-Option5123
  • Edit: I just found out he got laid off. Some companies just can't help themselves.
    via Specific-Option5123
  • A frustrated job candidate rests his head on the desk after dealing with an exhausting interview process.
    via Unsplash+ (via Vitaly Gariev)

    A frustrated job candidate rests his head on the desk after dealing with an exhausting interview process.

    Picture does not depict real parties.

  • mr_nobody398457 Sounds to me like they were flailing financially and these extra interviews were just a way of not telling you and not telling their staff that they were really broke. So you can think that if they had hired you (and perhaps a few others) they would be raking in the profits I mean who would contradict you? And great for you on finding a better job.
    via Specific-Option5123
  • Easy Mode556 Sounds like you dodged a bullet. Maybe even an artillery shell
    via Specific-Option5123
  • Reggie-Rectangle I really despise multiple interviews. I have never gone to an interview and had it last longer than an hour.
    via Specific-Option5123
  • _newjoisey They are flailing and were hoping for a magic bullet to come along and make it possibly for them to hire you, but it sounds like they're still waiting for it.
    via Specific-Option5123
  • xSinistress What kind of field holds this many interviews?? This multiple rounds of interviews is so common on this sub and its just unlike anything I've experienced or even heard of outside of here on this subreddit lol
    via Specific-Option5123
  • Wonderful_College_48 I had this happen with a company as well. I told them they should know better and to clean up their interview process. I will only have one direct boss and it's not necessary to include everyone and makes for a terrible candidate experience.
    via Specific-Option5123
  • OrangePuzzleheaded20 F that noise. Last job I had 8 rounds and a project I legitimately spent 40 hours on, thankfully I got the job. It would've been h I to move on from that with a rejection. Congrats!
    via Specific-Option5123
  • Model portrayal.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    A job candidate sits across from a hiring manager during a professional interview.

    Model portrayal.

  • Lucky-Coin-88 Congrats on the new role! Speculating that they wanted to hire you and have you fill the responsibility of the hiring manager..
    via Specific-Option5123
  • Dempsey64 I interviewed at a bar and many in the group were drinking.
    via Specific-Option5123
  • Crafty-Guest-2826 Yes, the interviewing process is insane. If a company can't make a decision after the fourth interview, walk. My niece went through 10 interviews with one company over three months. She gave two group presentations. They hired someone else.
    via Specific-Option5123

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