Are job interviews a farce?

Job interviews in tech are inherently chaotic and random at the individual level, despite appearing objective. Hiring decisions depend on numerous factors beyond interview performance—timing, organizational politics, visa status, budget cycles, and pure luck. Qualified candidates often get rejected for reasons unrelated to their abilities, while weaker candidates sometimes get hired due to organizational pressures or mistakes. The process involves too many human touchpoints and variables to achieve true objectivity. For candidates, this means rejection after a good interview often isn't personal, and persistence across multiple interviews increases chances of success. For companies, striving for rigor matters, but expecting perfect rationality in hiring is unrealistic.