20 minutes into a phone call with a recruiter, she shared the next steps in the process: a “take home exercise” to be delivered via email BEFORE any interviews. I asked if I could first meet with the hiring manager or someone on the team to make sure it’s the right fit before dedicating time to the presentation, to which she said she’d follow up. When she did, she relayed the hiring manager (and CEO) wasn’t willing to meet beforehand. I understand needing to see someone’s critical thinkinh skills in action. Heck, I do this as part of my hiring process too. What I don’t understand is an unwillingness to get to know someone on a human level before asking them to take time away from their jobs, families and lives to help you solve a (likely very real) scenario.