I recently completed an interview process that involved a coding exercise, a request for references, and a recruiting triage before my resume was even considered by the hiring manager. While I appreciate a thorough vetting process, I found this particular sequence to be a bit disjointed and premature. The coding exercise was well-structured, which I value, as it provided an opportunity to showcase my problem-solving skills. However, being asked for references and going through a screening before the hiring manager had even reviewed my resume felt inefficient and unusual. Typically, I'd expect a hiring manager to first evaluate my qualifications to determine mutual interest before moving forward with these more intensive steps. This sequence gave me the impression that the process was more focused on procedural checkboxes rather than genuinely assessing fit at the appropriate stages. A more balanced approach—where the hiring manager is involved earlier in the process—might streamline and optimize the interview experience for both candidates and the company.