It seems like companies do not understand that they are competing for programmers as much as programmers are competing for companies. If you're a programmer with at least one big N job under your belt, you don't have to take bad treatment. You don't have to deal with terrible interviews or really long processes. The power is on your side. It's only because most programmers don't understand the balance of power that companies keep getting away with this nonsense. I marvel at how companies are throwing away their chances at top talent due to these horrible processes.
I recently applied and got an offer from a big N company. It took forever, easily three times the length of my other processes. I was not given any insight into my team beyond an overarching organization. The pay was not fantastic and they didn't honor my first location request. Why would I accept this? The pay I could have negotiated. But I'd still be put into a random, likely boring team in a city I didn't pick as my first choice. All to be able to work at a "Big N" company, when I've already had that experience. Maybe that works on some people but after the first Big N it's really not important.
I recently applied and got an offer from a big N company. It took forever, easily three times the length of my other processes. I was not given any insight into my team beyond an overarching organization. The pay was not fantastic and they didn't honor my first location request. Why would I accept this? The pay I could have negotiated. But I'd still be put into a random, likely boring team in a city I didn't pick as my first choice. All to be able to work at a "Big N" company, when I've already had that experience. Maybe that works on some people but after the first Big N it's really not important.