everywhere is also incentivized to make the process as bad as possible so people aren't casually switching jobs when one presents intolerable conditions
It's also probably to disincentivize applications period, the HR nuts will come up with every excuse otherwise but the real reason for all the job application hoops to jump through is because HR fuckers hate actually doing their dammed jobs and intentionally make the process as hard and annoying as possible so they don't have to look through as many applications.
I saw a story posted on the internet, take it for what it's worth.
Boss boasts that he told people coming for the interview to come to the office at 9 am, and then waited for hours until all but one left. He claimed he wanted to hire someone with patience. The commnets said he wanted to hire someone desperate and spineless.
I remember being in highschool and applying to a walmart at an automated kiosk. The stupid thing made me take one of those personality tests. I didn't get the job. Phew.