I got laid off in May and have been actively job hunting since then. I've gone through interviews with six different companies so far, and I've noticed a common pattern: the interview process typically consists of four rounds — a phone screen, a large panel interview, a direct supervisor interview, and finally, a CEO interview. I'm currently at the final stage with one of these companies, where I've been scheduled for a 15-minute CEO interview. In a different job market, I would think this means I'm likely to receive an offer, and that this is just a formality. However, I've heard from others that there can still be 2 to 4 candidates in the running at this stage, which seems a bit crazy to me. I'm trying to understand how a 15-minute interview could help a CEO decide between multiple equally qualified candidates who have made it this far. While I know that I can't predict this employer's intentions, I'm trying to keep my mind occupied while I wait. I'm curious about others' experiences with CEO interviews. Did it lead to an offer for you? Did you face rejection afterward? How many candidates were you up against? I'd especially like to hear from HR professionals at smaller companies.