> I don't get it? That doesn't sound too bad. A brief interview with candidates, a short take home project, and then a final interview seems quite reasonable.

> I don't get it? That doesn't sound too bad. A brief interview with candidates, a short take home project, and then a final interview seems quite reasonable. Maybe because once you have finished there's a fair chance they won't even tell you what they think? This thing is often deeply asymmetrical and smart people realize this and try to avoid it. In other words: if it is well known that doing the assignment will lead to a real on site interview, meeting the team etc you'll probably see more experienced people take the test. Hey, even just being known for giving real feedback would put you in the upper tiers. (Is it this bad? Yes! I've crossed the mountains to be told they couldn't interview me that day. I've been held waiting for months, been told under no unclear terms that my results where almost perfect, - then radio silence.)