You interview me for an hour and a half. When I ask you questions pertinent to the job and my ability to fit into it, you tell me I have an excellent manner, and have asked thoughtful questions. You also tell me that the position is not carved in stone, and that I will have the opportunity to explore it after learning about the company.
I refer to my specific interest in your industry which prompted me to apply for the position. I explain that I am willing to take an entry-level position order to learn more about the field, and that I can see myself there for the long-term.
You explain that the company is growing and you prefer to promote from within, and what particular areas would I be interested in? I tell you, and you say that you admire my ambition, and that, given my experience, there is no reason why those areas wouldn’t open up to me in the next few years.
Overall, the interview goes extremely well. I express my interest in the position, and the company. You confirm that you understand that I am interested. You tell me that my resume was the only one you were currently considering because nobody else had the qualifications for the job. You tell me I interview “impeccably”. (I’d better, I used to teach people interview skills)…
I send a thank-you note (which NOBODY does anymore via email or otherwise). Then you get back to me via voicemail and tell me that you enjoyed meeting me “immensely”, you would highly recommend me to anyone hiring, but that you think I will become “bored” of the position you have open.
Um, WHAT? Seriously? Were you in the room with me? Did you miss EVERYTHING I said? And did you forget that you don’t even know WHAT it is you want me to do for you?
Seriously, I don’t know HOW these people get themselves into positions where they’re responsible for hiring others…
–maybe it’s because I told you I was engaged?
This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2009.
Na it’s because they found someone easier to push around and for less money.
ARG! This is as infuriating as that “overqualified” ruse that we have just been discussing.
I have heard this one as well—and you have no recourse to respond with anything along the lines of “Gosh, if I wasn’t interested in this “boring” job . . . I wouldn’t have wasted a whole morning in the interview!!”
You have my sympathies—I hope down the road it turns out to be a blessing in disguise. They sound like assholes you wouldn’t want to work for anyway.
And yet I hear all the time from bosses that they seem to have SUCH a dificult time finding and keeping good talent—can’t imagine why!
Agree totally with RubyJane’s post.
It is frustrating to be sure. I even had to take the MBA off my resume because I think employers assumed that just because I had one that I was looking for a 6 figure salary
Ah, the rat race…job interviews/combed hair/yessir, nosir…
Take it from me…when you read advice to wear a “power suit” – don’t wear the hat with the viking horns…they don’t “get it”
🙁
You should call back and argue against the boredom thing. It’s a BS reason to not hire someone who is going to do the better job.
Ohh well, it happens. I’ve had interviews that I thought went really well too, which I prepared for hours for, bought a new suit for, spent lots of money preparing materials etc. for, thought that I had in the bag, and then… “sorry, we’ve just found someone else / we’re not actually hiring at the moment, but thanks for coming in anyway!” I understand your frustration in a way because I’ve been pretty pissed too, but hey, that’s the shitty part of life sometimes.
On the other hand, and not meaning to sound like a turd, but maybe you weren’t that great after all and the guy was just bullshitting you. I hate that too – please just tell me to my face if I’m no good, and perhaps even how I can improve for next time. As I mentioned in another thread, this seems to be a very Maritimer / Canadian trait.
Haha “maybe it’s because I told you I was engaged? “ Nice the I’m a woman therefore, I’m a victim card.
Tough luck. It happens to all.
I understand your frustration. One interview I went to, the politely called me and told me they were looking for someone with more experience. Then they hired one of my classmates, who had the same amount of experience but was older. I’ve since then moved my education to the bottom of my resume so they won’t look at the dates of graduation – the letters after my name say enough. But the worst part is they always have some bullshit answer, and they always are so promising in the interview room…
Just curious, Balls, why do you assume the OP is female? Men can be engaged too… and it’s not as obvious, seeing as how guys don’t generaly wear engagement rings…
. I actually assumed the OB was a male.
I don’t see a guy being so insecure about an interview. Brown nosing = insecure.
It’s rare to hear the sexism come from a male, though not impossible.
I related the last line to a female thinking she didn’t get it because of possible maternity leave within the year.
Why assume a male?
I also assumed the OP to be a woman and didn’t really think much else about it, but I suppose it could be a dude. The whole writing style seems very feminine to me, plus, as Balls said, it’s usually women who complain about this type of stuff and discrimination and whatnot. Also, she “asked thoughtful questions” and sent a thank you note – really, what guy would do that? Kidding, kidding.
Anyway, My last girlfriend used to complain all the time about being passed up for things are her work, not getting paid enough, not getting respected, etc., and would always claim “it’s only because I’m a woman! If I was a man they wouldn’t do this to me!” Nevermind the fact that she was a relatively low-level, inexperienced, younger employee, on top of the fact she could be a real a whiney, miserable, unlikeable little bitch sometimes. I got treated like crap at work sometimes too, everybody does, it’s just that women can use the “sexism/misogyny” card and get people in a lot of trouble if they want to. The worst for me was when I was working in a female dominated office with a female CEO. No, not because I felt “threatened” or “emasculated,” but because they could be really inefficient, catty, and mean with me and eachother. On the other hand, I’ve also had a female manager who was great – not a bitch, competent, friendly and positive but tough when she needed to be, hard working, and well-respected by just about everyone, male and female.
I actually didn’t assume either way, personally, just wondered why Balls assumed female…
I have hired several men who sent thank you notes (or at least emails) and asked thoughtful questions because they indicated the types of qualities I was looking for in the positions I was hiring for…
Wow, wait, that could be taken TOTALLY out of context… Here’s a new bitch for you – “can’t find a decent gigolo in this town” – discuss. LOL (And YES, I am kidding…)
i thought it was a woman because at the end, whomever it was, said ” maybe its because I told you I was engaged” – so me, with my stupid, socially learned knowledge assumed that it was a woman who didnt get the job and the interviewer (s) were male and maybe she thought that they wanted to fuck her, or liked her, or in some way were attracted to her in such a way that when they found out she was engaged, it turned them off of hiring her. Alternately, it could have been that because they found out “she” was engaged, they wouldnt want to hire her because a young, engaged woman can become a young married woman, whom, in a short amount of time can become a young woman having babies and taking maternity leave etc etc.
if she is a woman, and she did think the men didnt want 2 hire her when they found out she was engaged because they were attracted to her – from her story it didnt sound like that was reason.. and more, WHY DID YOU TELL THEM YOU WERE ENGAGED? save that shit till after you get hired, use evrything you got!! hasha
oh and ps, yes,it could have been a woman who was conducting the interview and who didnt want to hire a guy because he was engaged and she was attracted to him – but its just not the first thought that comes to mind, its usually a man. but I know women do that shit just as much.
I don’t think it’s too off the mark to tell someone in an interview that you’re about to get married – you’ll need time off for various errands, let alone the honeymoon. I personally think it’d be pretty shitty to wait until you get the job to say “Oh, by the way, I’m getting married in June and we’re doing an around-the world honeymoon, so I’ll need the whole month off.”
I think for the most part this post was clearly presented, it appeared to the OP that they were a shoo-in, and then all of a sudden they weren’t, and no logical explanation was given by the interviewer as to why they didn’t get the job. Perhaps the sign-off of “maybe it’s because I told you I was engaged” is the only reason they could think of as to why s/he didn’t get the job…
I find the dynamic very interesting on LTWWB – we seem to grasp one piece of a post, and harp on it, while missing most of the *actually* important parts… Always good entertainment here, bitches! 🙂