I had the misfortune of interviewing with the Internet Archive multiple times, and it's clear that I didn’t learn my lesson after the first encounter. The entire process was painfully long and dragged out over weeks, with absolutely no communication during the agonizingly silent gaps. Multiple interviews were scheduled, often starting late, reflecting a level of disorganization that is deeply concerning for a company of this nature.
What’s even more troubling is that despite the team’s clear desperation for some semblance of process, nothing seems to move forward. It’s as if they’re stuck in a perpetual loop of inefficiency, unable to make any real progress. The lack of courtesy is astounding—not even the basic decency of a rejection after stringing candidates along for weeks.
The mission of the Internet Archive is undoubtedly worthy, but unfortunately, the people managing it are not. It’s a classic case of a great mission being undermined by poor leadership and a disorganized, inconsiderate hiring process. My advice? Be a good human and respect people’s time and effort. The Internet Archive could do well to heed this advice.