Navigating the Job Selection Process: My Experience and a Cautionary Tale

Hello, Dev.to community! I wanted to share my recent experience with the job selection process and highlight some challenges freshers may face when applying for jobs online. Hopefully, my story will help others navigate their own job searches more effectively.

Introduction
A friend suggested we apply for a job at a company. We were both excited about the opportunity and decided to give it a shot. However, the journey that followed was quite unexpected and taught me some valuable lessons.

Applying for the Job
My friend and I both applied for the position through a job portal.
Shortly after, we received an email from the company assigning us a task to complete as part of the application process. We respected the company's confidentiality terms and didn't discuss the task details with each other.

Completing the Task
My friend received the task earlier and submitted it before me. Due to my late application, I received the task later but managed to complete and submit it before the deadline.

After a few days, my friend received an email from the company confirming their selection. I was still waiting for a response.

Unexpected Results
I was shocked and confused about why I didn't receive a response after waiting for days. I couldn't help but wonder if I had made a mistake in my assignment. Curious about my friend’s task, I asked how they had completed it. She shared her submission with me, and upon reviewing it, I noticed several mistakes and incorrect outputs in my friend's submission assignment. It was clear that her assignment contained errors. Despite the errors, my friend was selected, and I wasn't.

This left me feeling disappointed and questioning the company's selection criteria.

Further Attempts and Disappointment
My friend accepted the offer and joined the company for a few months of internship, leading to a full-time position. I asked if there were any openings available. My friend inquired with her mentors, who confirmed there were, and I submitted my resume. However, despite their initial interest, the company didn’t respond.

Later, the company gave another assignment, mentioning it was for an internship with training provided. My friend agreed to the online training but again received no further communication after completing the assignment.

Questionable Job Postings
A few weeks later, I noticed that the same company posted the same role again.

This raised several questions in my mind. Why were they reposting the job? What happened to the previous applicants? Were all those applicants, including myself, rejected? The entire selection process seemed fishy and left me wondering about the company's recruitment practices.

Reflections on the Job Market
This experience made me realize that not all job postings and companies are straightforward, especially for freshers. Many reputable job portals like LinkedIn, Internshala, and Naukri, etc., host genuine opportunities, but there are also misleading postings that freshers need to be aware of.

Conclusion
To all freshers out there, be cautious and do thorough research before applying for jobs. Understand that not every application process will be fair or transparent. Stay resilient, and don't get discouraged by setbacks. Your skills and perseverance will eventually lead you to the right opportunity.

Call to Action
I'd love to hear about your experiences or answer any questions you have. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!