Last week I applied for a position for a small tech company that stated the position was remote in the job description. The role matches my current experience and skills. Perfect. Applied and received an email immediately from the recruiter the next day to set up a phone interview. Well, during the phone interview everything’s going well, she’s really impressed with my background and how it matches with the role I’m applying for then she asks me “I see you’re located in XXX. How close is that to (City the office is located in) and what would the commute time look like?” I was taken aback by this question and already knew where this was going. I told her I would have to check but I did see the description stated the position was remote and wanted to verify. She told me that the position will be full time in office based on the preference of the hiring manager.
I was over it at that point. I wanted to hang up the phone then and there but we wrapped up the conversation and she told me she would check with the hiring manager about the position being labeled as remote. Received an email from her immediately after wanting to move forward with an interview with the hiring manager and asking for my availability. And, you guessed it. The position is in office.
From that phone screening I was also told there’s a 4 part interview each with a different manager/VP and 1 hr each, and a project assignment from the hiring manager. And no, it’s not paid or compensated in any way. I haven’t responded to her yet but I’m definitely turning down the offer to interview because it’s ridiculous how they could try to lure in people on the false promise of remote work and ask them to work fully in office. The 4 part interview also sucks and definitely not worth the time. For all that and a daily 2 hour commute, it just isn’t worth it for me, especially with these current gas prices and so many other companies offering remote work. I’m just so sick of companies doing this to job seekers. Like it’s literally such a waste of time on both sides.