Fact check: Explain how tech interviews have gotten harder compared to previous years

1. Summary of the results

Tech interviews have indeed become significantly more challenging compared to previous years, with multiple factors contributing to this increased difficulty. The market has shifted toward being more selective, with companies prioritizing precision in hiring decisions over speed and volume ^[1]. This transformation is driven by several key developments:

Market Competition and Specialization: The tech job market has become increasingly competitive, with tech job postings showing a 4.1% month-over-month increase and positions requiring 10+ years of experience growing by 17% ^[2]. Companies are now focusing on strategic recruitment for specialized roles in areas like AI security, cloud automation, and fintech infrastructure ^[3].

Evolution of Interview Formats: Traditional interview approaches are becoming less effective, with companies adopting more realistic, open-ended coding challenges that test a candidate's ability to work with AI tools and think critically ^{[4] [1]}. The emphasis has shifted toward real-world problem-solving, system design, and behavioral evaluations ^[5].

AI's Disruptive Impact: The rise of AI has fundamentally altered the interview landscape. AI tools can now solve algorithmic puzzles, making traditional interview methods like Hackerrank and coding interviews less reliable ^[4]. This has forced companies to adapt their assessment strategies to focus on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several critical perspectives missing from the original question:

The "Game-ification" Problem: One significant viewpoint suggests that tech interviews have become a 'game' that candidates must prepare for, often more about demonstrating preparation ability rather than actual technical skills ^[6]. This perspective argues that the process has evolved into a 'cottage industry' designed to help candidates pass interviews rather than assess genuine competency ^[7].

Systemic Inefficiencies: There's a growing recognition that the current interview process is flawed, with some critics arguing it's more about making interviewers feel smart rather than evaluating candidates effectively ^[7]. Companies are being encouraged to focus on more practical evaluation methods like work sample tests or code reviews ^[7].

Volume vs. Quality Challenge: The analyses highlight that hiring managers face a deluge of applications for each job opening, with AI tools increasing application volumes but making it harder to identify qualified candidates ^[8]. This creates a paradox where technology meant to streamline hiring actually complicates the process.

Beneficiaries of Current System: The interview preparation industry benefits significantly from maintaining complex interview processes, as it creates demand for specialized training, courses, and coaching services.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains an implicit assumption that may not be entirely accurate:

Assumption of Universal Difficulty Increase: While the analyses confirm that interviews have generally become more challenging, some sources suggest that the difficulty isn't necessarily in the technical content but in the strategic approach and preparation required ^[6]. The "harder" aspect may be more about navigating an increasingly complex and sometimes arbitrary system rather than genuine technical advancement ^[7].

Missing Temporal Context: The question lacks specificity about the timeframe for comparison. The analyses focus primarily on recent developments ^[9] but don't provide clear historical baselines for measuring increased difficulty over specific previous years.

Oversimplification of Causes: The question implies a straightforward progression of difficulty without acknowledging that the changes are largely reactive to technological disruption (particularly AI) rather than a deliberate escalation of standards ^{[4] [8]}.

The evidence strongly supports that tech interviews have become more challenging, but the nature of this difficulty is more nuanced than a simple increase in technical complexity—it reflects broader market dynamics, technological disruption, and systemic inefficiencies in the hiring process.