This was the most complex and exhaustive hiring process I have ever seen--I can not possibly imagine that it produces only the best candidates for each role, but rather only those so desperately in need of a job that they have not been hired by anyone else during the unrelenting 3-6 month process. Either that or it produces continual inner promotions and lateral moves. What's more, anyone looking to change jobs for a career at FPL need not apply as their interview series will require at LEAST four days of your hard-earned PTO time.
First there is a phone interview, then a 1 hours skills test (which is almost ridiculous), then a simple interview, then there is a cluster of interviews (4-5 individuals, one at a time), then a 72-hour take home project, then a final interview with the VP, then presumably an offer. At any time during this process, if an internal candidate comes up, he/she will be allowed to complete the same complex series before a decision is made (thereby stretching out your wait time). In my case, I was first considered for a position I was incredibly well qualified for.
After three months and having successfully navigating the entire series, I was finally granted an interview within a very narrow time frame (two weeks out) with the VP. The day before the interview, I was called and told it would need to be rescheduled due to a "scheduling error." Though I consistently followed up, I was told they were "waiting to hear more..." One month later, I was told that an internal candidate had arisen and my final interview was being postponed in order for her to go through the entire interview process. A month after that I was notified that they hired the internal candidate, but that I would be considered for other positions that arose.
Two months later, I was called again for a similar position and promised an abbreviated process as a result of my prior experience. However, all but the initial skills test were still required (even though this was now an ENTRY LEVEL position), including the 72-hour take home challenge. Having spent months of my life and more than 12 hours completing the last take home project for a job I was ultimately not awarded, I chose to spend less time on this second 72-hour challenge. Perhaps not surprisingly, I was again not awarded the position.
At this point, I am resigned to the fact that it is likely I am not well matched to a giant bureaucracy such as this. And in my experience, often the interview/hiring process is much like the work flow process. At FPL, it appears to be: giant, bureaucratic and highly politically motivated. Given that, It's not likely I would have been a good long term fit anyway! :)
Interviewee beware: Consider the time and opportunity cost involved before continuing down the interview matrix.