First round of interviews were with line manager and a research director, individually. The former was to examine personality and likability, and the research director presented me with a test on the spot. The second and final round of interviews was with two directors, also individually and in the same format. Four interviews in total, and two ad-hoc tests in each. The tests required on-spot thinking of how to formulate and plan extended research projects. I was given 15 minutes to prepare my responses to the test questions and was given the rest of the interview (20-25 mins) to present my answers. I rate a negative experience of these interviews because in hindsight, this rejection felt like an instance where candidates were exploited for their brains and perspective in the two tests. Furthermore, a factor that led to my rejection was not based on my performance in the interviews, but that successful candidate had years of experience over me. If this was a factor, then why waste everyone's time having me proceed through the four interviews and two tests??? I just don't understand the HR process and the rejection feels significantly more frustrating than educational in this instance.