Interview stinker!

Lucan Unlordly · Mar 31, 2009

My wife put our neice forward for a job at the place she works last week. A major financial services employer.

On Friday she was told to expect a call on Monday, yesterday. The call came at 1pm, for an interview some 20 miles away at 5.30pm the same day. Short notice, difficult to get to as she doesn't drive but more importantly she is only cleaning 3 days a week but it's a responsible job at county hall and she wouldn't let her current employer down by telling white lies or throwing a sicky.

This to me is commendable and particularly so as many of the youngsters they currently employ don't make Mondays after a night of the beer and have no loyalty to the company or job.

Now it looks like she's been overlooked and it's unlikely she'll get another opportunity.

Personally I think it stinks.

paretowasright · Apr 1, 2009

I would have a word with someone in HR and explain the situation.
The notice given for interview was unreasonable and the loyalty demonstrated only goes to show what a good employee she is especially for her age. If HR do not respond I would go straight to the top.
That may get a new interview date!

maxine · Apr 1, 2009

I think it stinks too but more importantly it is also a sign of how things are done in that company and what she could expect if she worked there. Would she really wanted to be treated so shoddily on a day to day basis? Seems she has had a lucky escape IMO as they wouldn't care much for her if she worked there.

Unfortunately some large companies, financial services or otherwise, handle recruitment like sausage machines and don't recognise loyalty and professionalism. Still, might be worth a letter to HR Director

Lucan Unlordly · Apr 1, 2009

Like I say my wife works there and is more than happy. She is 'having a word'

I've just been surprised that so many people think my neice was wrong to do the right thing. There was no guarantee of a job, it wasn't a second interview, and she could quite easily have been fired for letting her current employer down.

mke · Apr 1, 2009

I daren't start. It'd just descend to a rant about tinpot bureaucrats in the mould of Thatcher's and Brown's making.

L' Unlordly, you have a family member to be proud of. I am sure, as these things tend to go in fashionable phases, that as ethics return to the nation's consciousness, rather than petty beancounting particulars missing the real picture by a sea mile, she will be amply rewarded by a job with a smaller more caring and ethical enterprise.

davidshaw89 · Apr 1, 2009

I believe quite a few big employers will do this. They will invite you for an interview a few hours before it occurs, and explain that they forgot to phone you or something.

I suppose it is a good way of them testing to see how flexible you could be to them if they required last minute overtime.

Lucan Unlordly · Apr 1, 2009

davidshaw89 said:
I believe quite a few big employers will do this. They will invite you for an interview a few hours before it occurs, and explain that they forgot to phone you or something.

I suppose it is a good way of them testing to see how flexible you could be to them if they required last minute overtime.

I see your point but she's 18 and just finding her feet on the employment ladder. Her first reaction and answer was genuine and shows a lack of nous by the HR department.

I make no secret of the fact that I dislike some of the tactics employed by HR departments, particularly after the head honcho has been on a 'How to' course at great expense.

I never have forgotten the question posed to me some years ago.
'Given the choice, would you prevent the next world war or cure all of the worlds health problems?' I reflected on this question and returned to it some minutes later. The result..'you don't like making decisions'

My answer was irrelevant:| But for the record, solving the worlds health problems overnight would be catastrophic and lead to overcrowding, world wars are human beings means of natural selection'.......I think

Esk247 · Apr 1, 2009

My wife put our neice forward for a job at the place she works last week.

wish someone had put me forward for a job! i never seem to have people in the right place at the right time..now that stinks!

but that aside..same day interviews are a bit random and un called for me thinks! perhaps next day if they are in a rush to get through potential takers for the job.

i've had a next day interview but it was in the afternoon so not all that bad..didn't get the darn job but alas..running your own business for 6 years doesn't seem to qualify you for a saturday job in my town.

grr

avantime · Apr 1, 2009

Esk247 said:
My wife put our neice forward for a job at the place she works last week.

wish someone had put me forward for a job! i never seem to have people in the right place at the right time..now that stinks!

but that aside..same day interviews are a bit random and un called for me thinks! perhaps next day if they are in a rush to get through potential takers for the job.

i've had a next day interview but it was in the afternoon so not all that bad..didn't get the darn job but alas..running your own business for 6 years doesn't seem to qualify you for a saturday job in my town. grr

Running your own business for 6 years renders you unemployable - it makes managers uneasy.

Mister B · Apr 1, 2009

I agree with max and think that your niece has been treated poorly. Am I correct in assuming that they offered no apology or explanation for the late invitation.

I appreciated that your wife already works within the aid company, but at what level? I've experienced companies where mid level managers and above were treated well but foot soldiers appallingly. Could this be the case here?

Mister B

Lucan Unlordly · Apr 2, 2009

Am I correct in assuming that they offered no apology or explanation for the late invitation.

I don't think they considered it as being late

They wanted to do a group writing test with all applicants sitting the 'exam' at the same time.

It seems that the person doing the intitial recruitment work is a junior member of staff who is not best placed to take consideration for peoples circumstances. Her boss may be on holiday, we don't know yet.

My wife is well thought of and has a supervisory team leaders role.

Beadons · Apr 2, 2009

Perhaps they already know who they want for the job, but obviously have to go through the motions by advertising it and calling a certain number for interviews.

SillyJokes · Apr 2, 2009

Beadons said:
Perhaps they already know who they want for the job, but obviously have to go through the motions by advertising it and calling a certain number for interviews.

This is what it smells like to me.

If your niece really, really wants a job there, a very polite and humble email explaining exactly why she couldn't make the interview would stand her in good stead with a chance of being called in a timely manner for another role.

Esk247 · Apr 2, 2009

alot of businesses do that...advertise the job then put the interview at a silly time because they don't really want people to go..they already have the person selected but i think there is a law that says they must advertise certain vacancies.

maxine · Apr 2, 2009

Lucan Unlordly said:
They wanted to do a group writing test with all applicants sitting the 'exam' at the same time.

That's probably it then.. they had to sweet talk someone to stay at short notice from HR or somewhere to supervise the assessment and they could only do it at 5.30 or it would mean missing the Apprentice or something

Why they couldn't have let her do the exam on her own in another room or at another time is a bit inconsiderate.

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Interview stinker!

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