The quick phone interview with the lead went well.

They asked me to come in for an in-person interview with the lead developers, then the architect, and finally the manager.

I was asked to prepare a small craft project for the interview. I spent probably 8 hours on a great PHP site, which was perfect for a small website, only to be told it needed to be in Java. The requirements also specified a login, so I did a basic email login. However, they actually wanted full authentication and session management, which was also not specified.

Similarly, I was asked by HR to prepare a 20-minute talk, but the hiring manager did not seem interested in hearing the presentation.

They said I had a week and should have spent a lot longer on the craft project. After a 30-minute interview, I don't see how anyone could justify spending 2 or 3 days on an interview project.

We need to get HR and the hiring manager on the same page regarding the requirements and the interview process. Please just specify the technologies to use, and it will be done. Or, if you want people to choose the right tool for the job, then the solution will not be in Java.

No behavioral questions. No whiteboard coding. No difficult algorithm questions. No OOP design questions.

Just basic stuff regarding technology and previous experience.