Anor_Sentinel's journey

I recently went through a grueling seven-week interview process for a senior project manager position at a company. It involved five rounds of interviews, a take-home presentation, and two last-minute rescheduling instances by the hiring manager due to "internal emergencies." I managed to stay positive throughout the entire process, eager to prove myself. However, the experience took a turn when, on a Friday afternoon at 4:30 PM, I received the formal offer letter from the recruiter. To my shock, the email stated that the offer would expire by midnight on Sunday. I was left staring at my screen, trying to comprehend how they could take forty-nine days to make a decision but expect me to review a lengthy twenty-page non-compete agreement and make a life-changing decision over just one weekend. I reached out to the recruiter, politely requesting an extension until Wednesday to properly evaluate the offer. To my surprise, the recruiter called me back within twenty minutes, sounding annoyed, and emphasized that leadership "values decisive candidates." It felt absurd to me. This practice of giving exploding offers seems more about pressuring candidates than any real business urgency. I can't understand why companies think this is acceptable behavior. I’m left wondering if I should accept the offer just to buy myself some time to evaluate it further, but I’m also aware of the red flags this process has raised about the company's culture. It's frustrating to see how some employers exploit the current job market dynamics.