If you're a technology job hopeful aiming to work in London or Financial Services, you've probably noticed something strange creeping into the hiring process.

The interviews are becoming longer, more complex - and quite frankly, it's getting silly.

Overly long, ‘marathon’ job interviews are alive and kicking tech candidates

A “nine-stage interview” was flagged up on my LinkedIn feed only the other day.

Not that I need social media to tell me that this trend of the ‘marathon’ interview is alive and kicking IT job candidates (thanks, Rebecca Collis for sharing, though).

That’s because I’m the founder of boutique staffing agency Bowers Partnership. We place freelance and contract IT professionals with Investment, Wealth, and Asset Owner companies, writes Bowers Partnership boss Natalie Bowers.

The hiring process equivalent to dial-up? Marathon interviews feel like it…

And while the tech in 2025-26 keeps getting slicker, the hiring process? It's heading in the opposite direction.

This article on tech job interview ‘scope creep,’ if you will, is a follow-up to my last Free-Work article, where I helped you decode freelance job adverts.

Multi-multi stage interviews are all the rage in IT

Only this time, I’m looking at what happens AFTER you apply for an IT role because the modern tech interview is turning into a full-blown side hustle. And an unpaid one at that!

Don’t worry; I’ll explain, including with some top tips (now and next week) on how to deal with the increasingly common ‘multi-multi’ stage interview, also known as the ‘marathon interview.’

What is a marathon interview?

A marathon interview is a job interview that spirals out of all proportion to the tech work you’re going forward for (contractor) or applying for (permanent).

The marathon interview often starts with a quick “intro call.” All is fine so far.

Then there’s a chat with the hiring manager. Sounds promising!

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