TLDR; After saying they required 3 references I provided 4 references and that wasn't sufficient, they called me during work hours to ask for more information from jobs that I held 15 years ago, asked me about a work gap that happened during the height of COVID layoffs and called my recruiter to ask if I would accept a lower salary, HR ultimately ended my application and did not submit it for executive review. Unnecessarily long and arduous. Seems like they only want you if you have a short career with major companies. After a phone screen, submitting my GPA (I'm over a decade out of college btw), 4 interviews, and after submitting 4 references I was questioned on employment gaps from 15 years ago when I worked retail and told if I could not provide a reference from a job I was laid off from 4 years ago during the height of COVID, HR made the final decision not to send my information for their executive review board and they ended my application there. It made me feel like I was being investigated for a crime. This was after I was told I was an ideal fit and was giving details for a relocation. The idea that 1 reference from my current and 3 from former companies was not enough for them shows a lack of trust in their employees and a micromanaging culture. I understand wanting to vet candidates properly but the weeks and weeks I waited only to have them bring up things I communicated clearly in my early interviews ie the layoff and have them dig back in my LinkedIn history that was active and visible the entire process as a dealbreaker is a little ridiculous. I was also strangely contacted by the outside recruiter that brought the role to me after I was at the stage of submitting references if I could lower my salary expectations to meet that of a local candidate. I am grateful that I did not decline the other job offer I kept waiting for several weeks during this process.