Lately I have been experiencing this hoax where the job posting advertises for a particular level/ position and once you complete recruiter call, phone round and onsite interviews they offer you a lower level claiming it was based on the interview performance.

This has happened with me at Microsoft and multiple other companies. Between an intermidiate and Sr. Software role difference is leadership experience and maybe some architectural understanding(they even assume that you will step down from your current position to take this option) but when they don't even provide a reason it could also be a hoax where they advertise to lure more candidates and once they have options they play low-ball and even downgrade your performance.

We as interviewers take time-off from current job to attend day long loops just to later realize we were part of this hoax and ended up wasting our time! Wonder if other people are experiencing this often? Is this a game which recruiters play now-a-days to get low-budget candidates?

Usually I do have intution on how I perform in the interviews, design/architecture level interviews could be subjective. Could they assume you deserve lower level position based on that? In that case why not reject right away for the advertized position than playing this game to hire cheaper candidate?

I personally have fallen in this trap before only to realize steping down defines your work and is not just a pay-cut. Once you join the company you can hardly distinguish how seniors are better than you. Infact you maybe a much better and organized leader but alas you have to work extra hard to get promoted although difference between your tasks and their tasks is blurr! Hiring managers assure faster promotion due to hyper growth enviornment in the beginning to convince you it's worth a risk but once you join you realize they keep piling up your goals(basically even though you keep achieving milestone, they can keep adding more) to delay your promotion without providing any timelines so you are back to square one :)

This is the case with not just experienced candidates but fresh grads as well. For e.g there are positions:

Software Engineer I, Software Engineer II, Software Engineer III. Software Engineer I description may say it is for Bachelor level candidate but a Master candidate may end-up taking that role out of desperation whereas some smart fresh grads join at Software Engineer III which is an intermidiate role. Sometimes it is because of good negotiation some engineers get higher level just so their asked price can be adjusted in defined bracket of the role and may have nothing to do with interview performance!

Lessons:

• If you have faith that you will be acknowledged for your worth there is nothing wrong in waiting for the right level and compensation specially if you are not jobless rather than falling in this trap!

• Money is not the only criteria for negotiation, your position/level defines the quality of your work(Experience) and chances to grow upwards at managment or principle level so do not underestimate the level you accept.

• Even if your hiring manager assures you that they will promote you quickly, remember it's a verbal communication and it means nothing once you join. In-fact they can pretend they have v short term memory!