The "Market & Career" Pivot: The stock market is crashing and my job search feels like a slog, but this bowl of noodles is the only thing keeping my career trajectory positive today.

Recently, I went for a job interview that turned out to be quite an experience.

The first round started with a written test, followed by an hour-long interview with two interviewers. After that, there was complete silence for almost a month. I had already assumed I wasn't shortlisted.

Then, out of the blue last week, I received a call asking if I was still interested in the position. They invited me back for a second interview.

This time, it was a whole different level. There were seven people sitting across from me, all staring at me. I honestly felt like a gorilla on display at the zoo. One after another, they fired difficult questions at me. Some I handled well, while others completely caught me off guard. It felt less like an interview and more like an interrogation.

One interviewer asked how I would handle an irregularity involving a close colleague. I replied that it wasn't a straightforward question because the situation was too generic. My view was that we first need to understand the facts, assess the implications, and avoid making wrongful allegations that could unfairly damage someone's reputation or the team's trust. If there were reasonable grounds for concern, I would escalate the matter to my immediate superior for proper investigation.

He immediately stopped me and said I wasn't answering the question directly and that it wasn't the answer they were looking for. At that point, I wondered whether they were expecting a textbook answer rather than a practical one.

When it finally ended, the person in charge told me that if I was selected, I would still need to go through another interview with the boss, followed by a final interview with the boss's boss.

Walking out of the room, I couldn't help but think how exhausting the hiring process has become. You spend hours preparing, attend multiple rounds of interviews, answer countless questions, and there's still no guarantee of getting the job.

Whether I get the offer or not, one thing is certain—job hunting really is a test of patience.