Annoying things employers / agencies do regarding interviews.

oldscoil

Hi Folks.

I mate of mine went for an interview recently, and he told me that the employer pulled his CV apart, asking him what he was doing for a 2 month gap between jobs …TEN YEARS AGO….

Right from the get go he felt he wasn’t even in the running for the job, but gave it 110% anyway.

They also quizzed him “why he went to college, and why wasn’t he working in the field he had studied, and why doesn’t he go for a job in that area?”

He studied media 8 years ago (like myself) and these jobs are few and far between.

He felt like they didn’t look past this, and ignored the fact that he has been working away for the past 8 years.

I know these are standard questions, but he came away from the interview wondering why they bothered asking him in….he felt like he was brought in the be ridiculed about his past, solely for their own sadistic pleasure….. He was jokin, but still felt really p-ssed off…

He had to take the day off form his current job, costing him a day’s holiday…..

I had a similar experience 3 years ago.

I applied for a job on line and got a call from John YYY in XXX Recruitment:
[company details snipped]

He asked me if I ever considered working in HR and he had a role that may suit me.

I was out of work at the time, and was really excited at the [prospect of working in a HR dept, as I had studied it as part of my Degree.

Got suited and booted and made my way to Broombridge Business Centre.

Met John, (young, tall English guy) , and we proceeding to have a chat.

About ten minutes into our chat, I realise this guy is just pssing all over my college qualifications and working career.

He started to get quite annoyed as if I had dooped him into an interview.

He kept saying, “what are you doing with your life??!?!?”, “ “Where do you think you’re going?!?!?”

When I asked about the position, he asked me how could he possibly send me for any interview??!

We finished up, I felt two inches tall. He told me he was going to re-gig my CV and send it back to me. This never happened and I never heard from him again.

I rang the above number prior to posting this thread. It’s a different company. Hopefully they went belly up and John is working in a call centre somewhere :P

So anyone have any similar stories or other annoying tales...?

InReality

I hear what your saying. CV's are a sensitive enough matter as its meant to be a "summing up" of your life and work to date.

A lot of people landed recruitment during the boom , so you'd have a large variety in training levels and life experience.

Sorry you had some muppet like that dealing with you.

tenchi-fan

Asking about a 2 month gap is pretty dumb, especially if it's clear you were jobhunting. However it does give you the opportunity to mention anything worthwhile you did during career breaks.

Asking someone why they're not working (or never worked) in the field they studied is a perfectly legitimate question, though, and I think you and your friend are being over-sensitive. There are so many ways you could respond to this question in a positive way, usually highlighting the skills you learned in the course and the opportunity that came along in the area you ended up working.

As for the recruiter making you feel bad in an interview, it happens I suppose. You can avoid someone picking holes in your cv by cutting down on the waffle and only listing the facts.

His question "what are you doing with your life, Where do you think you’re going", it's another typical interview question and interviewers want a strong, confident reply. You won't be able to dodge this question, they will linger on it until they have an answer.

bob the bob

I only tear people apart in interviews when they have about 5 it qualifications and can't answer something like "what's an IP address?" then it's fair game, timewasters

Lux23

What bugs is that you go through a lengthy interview process and at the end of it they say you are unsuccessful as your experience doesn't match our requirements.

Why interview me in the first place if my experience doesn't match? Im out of work 6 months now and I got just got my 11th No with the same bull**** reason and all I really want to know is if I am going wrong somewhere please point it out.

the_syco

Lux23 wrote: »

Why interview me in the first place if my experience doesn't match? Im out of work 6 months now and I got just got my 11th No with the same bull**** reason and all I really want to know is if I am going wrong somewhere please point it out.

I'm thinking your experience maybe right, but your answers may be wrong. Example: you swept the streets for 5 years. You say you swept the streets for 5 years, and you fail. You explain how you went about it, how you ensured the street was swept correctly, etc, and you get the job. Maybe think about the answers you've been giving?

tenchi-fan

Lux23 wrote: »

What bugs is that you go through a lengthy interview process and at the end of it they say you are unsuccessful as your experience doesn't match our requirements.

Why interview me in the first place if my experience doesn't match? Im out of work 6 months now and I got just got my 11th No with the same bull**** reason and all I really want to know is if I am going wrong somewhere please point it out.

11 interviews and all Nos? If you want some feedback, maybe your cv is misleading (i.e. it gets you interviews, just not jobs), or your interview skills aren't very good, or you're lacking in experience. Or if all the interviews have been with a recruitment agency, consider apply direct to companies.

The job market is very poor but 11 interviews without any jobs just seems a bit much.

Lux23

tenchi-fan wrote: »

11 interviews and all Nos? If you want some feedback, maybe your cv is misleading (i.e. it gets you interviews, just not jobs), or your interview skills aren't very good, or you're lacking in experience. Or if all the interviews have been with a recruitment agency, consider apply direct to companies.

The job market is very poor but 11 interviews without any jobs just seems a bit much.

There is nothing on my CV that I haven't done. My interview skills are very good although I am jaded at this stage so maybe its coming across, ive had excellent coaching here so it can't be an issue as such. Three were with recruitment agencies so not a problem. Lacking in experience at what? If they felt that this was the case why are they bringing me for interview in the first place?

I was offered one job but it fell through when the company lost half their budget.

Before every interview I go through their job spec and answer the 20 most popular interview questions, I research the company as much as I can, I have my suit dry cleaned everytime, my hair blowdried. Theres nothing I am doing wrong and I can answer any question thrown at me and always have a list of questions to ask. There is nothing that I have being told to do that I don't and if I can get any good feedback I take that on board but of it is crap.

Lux23

The only thing is that I see as a potential problem is that I am coming from a big company and I have only interviewed with smaller organisations and maybe they feel I won't fit in.

krd

Lux23 wrote: »

What bugs is that you go through a lengthy interview process and at the end of it they say you are unsuccessful as your experience doesn't match our requirements.

Why interview me in the first place if my experience doesn't match? Im out of work 6 months now and I got just got my 11th No with the same bull**** reason and all I really want to know is if I am going wrong somewhere please point it out.

They say that blather because it's the only thing they can be sure won't get them into trouble.

common sense brigade

I once wasted my time travelling 4 hours for an interview.and a full day waste of time for a trial. In a hair transplant clinic working for rich and sometimes famous people. Basically I had an interview (drove from Clare to Dublin) and passed it and was called back next day and asked to do a days trial. I was delighted as it was a really exciting career move. So up I went. 2 hours in I noticed a woman staring intently at my hands. I had some small patches of psoriasis on my knuckles at the time. She pulled me out and said she couldnt risk having me working there. Even though you wear gloves when doing the transplants. I was so embarrassed. I felt like an idiot. and wasted a full two days from my job taking time off for interview and trial.

COYW

Lux23 wrote: »

The only thing is that I see as a potential problem is that I am coming from a big company and I have only interviewed with smaller organisations and maybe they feel I won't fit in.

I dont know what area you are in but that could be an issue if it is tecnhnical/IT. Smaller companies prefer candidates with a wider range of knowledge. 2 years ago, I moved from contracting in smaller companies to a perm position in a big company for job security reasons. In big companies, you have one area of work and you dont really break outside that. Smaller companies are very different, from my experience.

PCPhoto

common sense brigade wrote: »

I once wasted my time travelling 4 hours for an interview.and a full day waste of time for a trial. In a hair transplant clinic working for rich and sometimes famous people. Basically I had an interview (drove from Clare to Dublin) and passed it and was called back next day and asked to do a days trial. I was delighted as it was a really exciting career move. So up I went. 2 hours in I noticed a woman staring intently at my hands. I had some small patches of psoriasis on my knuckles at the time. She pulled me out and said she couldnt risk having me working there. Even though you wear gloves when doing the transplants. I was so embarrassed. I felt like an idiot. and wasted a full two days from my job taking time off for interview and trial.

sounds like you should contact a solicitor (I don't want to be one of those people who says sue sue sue and teach them a lesson) ...but ... unless your psoriasis will infect anyone then you should not be refused a job ...and I know psoriasis is not contagious.

they were considering you for a transplant clinic and didn't ask about any health/skin issues? or if they did ask and didn't think it was relevant until the lady spotted your psoriasis....in my opinion she discriminated against you.

common sense brigade

they were considering you for a transplant clinic and didn't ask about any health/skin issues? or if they did ask and didn't think it was relevant until the lady spotted your psoriasis....in my opinion she discriminated against you.

No they didnt ask me anything. I did a great interview apparently and was rang back straight away for the day's trial. I can only imagine they wanted people who looked perfect in the role as famous people attend the clinic. I only have psoriasis at times of stress and little patches on my hands appear. The clinic has been on the Late Late show many times. I did say , 'but i would be wearing gloves all day'. and was told 'oh well we couldnt risk you contaminating anything when removing your gloves'. I felt so mortified I had never heard of this happening to anyone before. I just went home and cried a bit and now im over it. My husband was fuming. Just wish they had something on the Job spec saying no skin conditions or something like that.

tfitzgerald

11 interviews and no job is not a lot these days trust me keep going I have applied for jobs and don't even get an interview

PCPhoto

common sense brigade wrote: »

No they didnt ask me anything. I did a great interview apparently and was rang back straight away for the day's trial. I can only imagine they wanted people who looked perfect in the role as famous people attend the clinic. I only have psoriasis at times of stress and little patches on my hands appear. The clinic has been on the Late Late show many times. I did say , 'but i would be wearing gloves all day'. and was told 'oh well we couldnt risk you contaminating anything when removing your gloves'. I felt so mortified I had never heard of this happening to anyone before. I just went home and cried a bit and now im over it. My husband was fuming. Just wish they had something on the Job spec saying no skin conditions or something like that.

seriously if that was there attitude - they need to wake up "contaminating anything"

get to a solicitor and have a chat with them ...or ask in the legal section of boards - if people there think you were treated unfairly (you cant ask for legal advice ...just opinions)

sickle

common sense brigade wrote: »

No they didnt ask me anything. I did a great interview apparently and was rang back straight away for the day's trial. I can only imagine they wanted people who looked perfect in the role as famous people attend the clinic. I only have psoriasis at times of stress and little patches on my hands appear. The clinic has been on the Late Late show many times. I did say , 'but i would be wearing gloves all day'. and was told 'oh well we couldnt risk you contaminating anything when removing your gloves'. I felt so mortified I had never heard of this happening to anyone before. I just went home and cried a bit and now im over it. My husband was fuming. Just wish they had something on the Job spec saying no skin conditions or something like that.

I believe i went for in interview in the same clinic, they really seemed more interested in appearance than anything else, I was definately not perfect looking enough to work there

common sense brigade

I believe i went for in interview in the same clinic, they really seemed more interested in appearance than anything else, I was definately not perfect looking enough to work there

If it was in Blackrock its prob the same place. The place itself is beautiful and very professional. At the days trial however alot of the people that work there were very cold and what I would call Snooty. I suppose its the industry. The receptionist was lovely though! I just will never forget the disgusted look on the head nurses face when she notice the red marks on my knuckles. I felt so small.

IamtheWalrus

I recently changed jobs and got one through a recruitment agency. The lad I dealt with was professional in all of my dealings with him (my company only go through this agency).

This is an exception to the rule that most HR 'specialists' are revolting and unprofessional leeches. I got a call from a HR dude in Ireland saying that he saw my CV on Monster and had a role that was 'perfect' for me. I said I wasn't interested before he told me about the role because I had made my mind up that I wanted to leave Ireland. When I told him I wasn't interested, he replied in a frustrated and begging tone 'Why not???'. I said 'just'. He then started to whinge about the number of roles he had in my area but can't get anyone to fill them. Like I could give a shite! I've had other specialist talking down to me in the most arrogant way.

Scum of the earth.

Lux23

No I am in PR which is a really difficult industry to find work in but sure we will see.

pow wow

Lux23 wrote: »

What bugs is that you go through a lengthy interview process and at the end of it they say you are unsuccessful as your experience doesn't match our requirements.

Why interview me in the first place if my experience doesn't match?

+1. Especially when they get you to travel from say, Cork to Dublin for a 9am interview they refuse to reschedule to later in the day so you've no choice but to get up at 4am to travel.

Also when they call you for interview (and you're pleasantly surprised at that because your experience isn't an exact fit for the job) but they spend the whole time picking you apart and making it painfully clear you're not suitable for the job from the get go - that's fine, you don't need to waste my time calling me for interview!

Apart from that the usual not calling back/not thinking it appropriate to issue a PFO when I've taken the time to come and sit through an interview like the ones mentioned above.... :rolleyes:

Lux23

[QUOTE=pow wow;70166425
Also when they call you for interview you (and you're pleasantly surprised at that because your experience isn't an exact fit for the job) but they spend the whole time picking you apart and making it painfully clear you're not suitable for the job from the get go - that's fine, you don't need to waste my time calling me for interview!

[/QUOTE]

I haven't encountered this as such, most of the time when I get called for a job the only experience issue is that I wouldn't have as much experience as they have specified. One interview I did have recently I had all the experience and more they specified but after three interviews they decided they wanted someone with experience of writing for international audiences. This was never mentioned in the original advert and although this is part of the job it wasn't a big deal. They just changed their mind and I see they have now readvertised the job so they must be starting all over again.

What strikes me is that some recruiters seem to think they need to interview ten people even though out of those ten there well be only two candidates who actually have the skills set required. Its like they are trying to fill a quota but have probably made their mind up already.

the_syco

Lux23 wrote: »

ive had excellent coaching here so it can't be an issue as such.

Where's "here"? Actually, don't answer that. You've gotten 11 "no's", so maybe "here" provides the wrong way?

Mrs OBumble

Ironically, my worst experience here was being interviewed by a semi-state, being interviewed by the hiring manager and their HR person: not a recruiter in sight.

They'd advertised directly for a "data analyst", but it quickly became apparent that they really wanted a developer/DBA. It was obvious to me very early on that I wasn't the right candidate for the job, given what they wanted the person to do, but they insisted on labouring on thru a very painful interview.

At one point, I even considered asking if they'd bothered to read my CV at all: They assumed because I said I'd worked with Oracle (which I have, as an an analyst, eg SQL-plus, designer-2000) I was expert at physical schema design, writing ETL scripts and database tuning!

donkey balls

An industry I worked in required you to have every month for the last ten years accounted for due to the nature of the business,There is about two agencies that I trust who only advertise real active ;)jobs in my industry even still I find myself applying for jobs that I could do with my eyes closed and not even get an interveiw.:D
As Im over qualified according to ex managers of mine so it's still temping work for me.

Lux23

the_syco wrote: »

Where's "here"? Actually, don't answer that. You've gotten 11 "no's", so maybe "here" provides the wrong way?

I am very good in interviews. Only issue is that I may be a bit cocky, but **** it I can't change who I am.

namelessguy

Lux23 wrote: »

I am very good in interviews. Only issue is that I may be a bit cocky, but **** it I can't change who I am.

Well you could tone it down a bit.

I had 19 interviews over 3 months before I landed the current job. It's demoralising but if you stick at it you'll get one eventually.

And at least they get back to you with a no. 19 interviews and only 6 companies had the courtesy to ring me and let me know I didn't get it. A few of them even had advice on how to improve my interview technique which was greatly appreciated.

Jagle

donkey balls wrote: »

An industry I worked in required you to have every month for the last ten years accounted for due to the nature of the business.

not meaning to pry but ive been trying to think what in the hell kinda industry is this but ive no idea, wanna share?

RRaff

Anyone come across anything for an ex-electronics store manager? 8 months unemployed and cracking up!!!!!!!!!

pollypocket10

Lux23 wrote: »

I am very good in interviews. Only issue is that I may be a bit cocky, but **** it I can't change who I am.

Lux23 what stands out to me is that you refuse to believe that the fault could lay with you in anyway. Maybe you need to lose the cockiness and be more open to the fact that you have areas that might need work.

The quality or range of your experience may not be good.
Your coaching may not be very good.
You may not interview as well as you believe.
Your cockiness in itself may be the problem, nobody wants an employee who believes there way is the right way and will lay the blame at anyones door but their own when things go wrong.

Just my 2 cents as an experienced interviewer.

Lux23

How am I supposed to know if my interviewing tecnique is poor if the only feedback I get is waffle about experience? I would love to know if there is something that I can change! I have applied for jobs and been told that I have too much experience so there seems to be no middle ground.

tenchi-fan

Lux23 wrote: »

How am I supposed to know if my interviewing tecnique is poor if the only feedback I get is waffle about experience? I would love to know if there is something that I can change! I have applied for jobs and been told that I have too much experience so there seems to be no middle ground.

Wow, that must have been an ego boost for you ! Too bad you're still unemployed.

When I applied for a job and had too much experience I left my masters and acca exams off my cv and reduced my accountancy experience down to "handy with word and excel; good admin skills; excellent communication skills"

donkey balls

Jagle wrote: »

not meaning to pry but ive been trying to think what in the hell kinda industry is this but ive no idea, wanna share?

Aviation industry;)

Jagle

donkey balls wrote: »

Aviation industry;)

awh ok, now im ever more stunned as to why the weekends needed to be free or accounted for you know

donkey balls

When I left a company I worked for(big airline) to travel around the aul world when I came back I got a job with another aviation related company as a ops mgr, I had to show them my passport with all the different stamps/visa to prove I was not locked up etc for being a bold boy:D.

Jagle

donkey balls wrote: »

When I left a company I worked for(big airline) to travel around the aul world when I came back I got a job with another aviation related company as a ops mgr, I had to show them my passport with all the different stamps/visa to prove I was not locked up etc for being a bold boy:D.

ha thats mad, tho ive worked in an airport, crazy security, tho there was always ways around it

tenchi-fan

donkey balls wrote: »

When I left a company I worked for(big airline) to travel around the aul world when I came back I got a job with another aviation related company as a ops mgr, I had to show them my passport with all the different stamps/visa to prove I was not locked up etc for being a bold boy:D.

I didn't think that's something they'd make you go through at the interview. It seems like a bit of a distraction!

the_syco

Lux23 wrote: »

There is nothing that I have being told to do that I don't and if I can get any good feedback I take that on board but of it is crap.

You have to understand: you're dealing with HR - it may be crap, but you need to take it on board.

Lux23 wrote: »

I am very good in interviews. Only issue is that I may be a bit cocky, but **** it I can't change who I am.

You don't need to change who you are, but you may need to improve your acting during interviews. Heck, if you're a bit cocky, fair enough, but if you're admitting you're a bit cocky, you may be more than a bit cocky? What I'm saying is, tone it down a notch for the interview, as it doesn't seem to be doing you any favours. You need to act a certain way for them HR people.

donkey balls

tenchi-fan wrote: »

I didn't think that's something they'd make you go through at the interview. It seems like a bit of a distraction!

The company only asked me to produce my passport once I got the job but during the interveiw they asked me about the months missing on my C.V due to traveling.

Lux23

the_syco wrote: »

You have to understand: you're dealing with HR - it may be crap, but you need to take it on board.

You don't need to change who you are, but you may need to improve your acting during interviews. Heck, if you're a bit cocky, fair enough, but if you're admitting you're a bit cocky, you may be more than a bit cocky? What I'm saying is, tone it down a notch for the interview, as it doesn't seem to be doing you any favours. You need to act a certain way for them HR people.

To be honest after six months out of work my confidence is heavily dented, all cockiness is gone out the window. In the PR industry, confidence is a must and its slipping away from me now. I haven't been interviewed by HR professionals for many jobs, most of the time it was the hiring manager as the companies are quite small. HR interviews are easier as they are properly structured and they don't really chuck in random silly questions about what you wanted to be as a six year old. Or as with one of my worst experiences, interview you for the wrong job!

Talking to a friend last night and he said it took him 15 interviews and ten months to get his role as a PR Officer so I may be in for a long slog.

Incidentally I am not signing on anymore as I have been doing some work as a runner for a music venue, don't want people to think I won't take any work I just don't want to take on any permanent roles that aren't in my industry.