Worst interview experience / prospective employer ever

vicky7833

Hi reader,

I want to vent my sheer frustration over an experience I had with a could-have been prospective employer.

I applied for 2 positions advertised by a US based company in January, a few weeks later I was asked to have a phone conversation with the (1) first interviewer.

Followed by another phone interview.(2)

Then an onsite almost 3 hour series of interviews with 3 seperate interviewers.(3)

Followed by a Skype interview with the US based first person I spoke with.(4)

Followed by another "role play" skype interview (5)

Another phone conversation advising me I could choose which role to go for. (6)

Followed by a skype interview for the least favorable position.(7)

Phone conversation with the first person I spoke with (8) (VP of the department) to advise the role I wanted as had a choice of both

Another FINAL phone conversation with this person (9) (with emails sent over amd back in between) where I was told he was so happy that I picked his role and cant wait for me to join them, and work with me, compared to my current salary/benefits that believe me I would be happy with salary when I asked is there anything they could send but said had nothing in writing yet, and also wanted me to hand in my notice so that I could be available for training in US a few weeks later... reference info etc given...and over a week later had heard nothing...was told offer letter etc would be sent..

LUCKILY that voice in my head told me not to hand in my notice to current employer even though I was so sure all was sure and almost sealed... to follow up and be told sorry for late contact that the role I applied for is still under review and establishing the role but he could still push his colleague to consider me for the least favourite role I applied to. To be honest I am disgusted. they wasted at least 8 hours of my time. told me they want me to work for them. I impressed all 6 people that interviewed me. I was even given a business care of one of the interviewers in the Galway office when I had my interview and he had told the US team that they want me and i am hugely insulted.

I understand rejection and not everyone is a fit. BUT surely I wouldnt have been told at conversation 7, 8 and 9 that the job choices were mine...I also see the jobs are re- advertised all over the net including what I went for and they also recieved IDA funding as a new business to open in Galway.

Anyone think it would be stupid of me to send a mail to the guy who gave me his business card / any of the others and give feedback?

Stheno

vicky7833 wrote: »

Anyone think it would be stupid of me to send a mail to the guy who gave me his business card / any of the others and give feedback?

Yes it would be pointless, a lot of American firms take this approach to interviews.

At the extreme end, I know of people who are flown to the US for one day of interviews towards the end.

It's just a particular style of recruitment which is fairly unique to American companies.

I could probably name that company as I'd a similar experience a few years ago.

vicky7833

Stheno wrote: »

Yes it would be pointless, a lot of American firms take this approach to interviews.

At the extreme end, I know of people who are flown to the US for one day of interviews towards the end.

It's just a particular style of recruitment which is fairly unique to American companies.

I could probably name that company as I'd a similar experience a few years ago.

They aren't a huge company and I think it shows a huge lack of respect to possible employees so in essence it is a blessing for me not to join them as who knows how they look after those that already got in the door and don't need to impress anymore! I just don't feel like a company can get away with wasting peoples time / possibly jeopradising current job and also shows a complete lack of respect. Bull****ting their way to try get new talent.

It wouldn't bother me as much if I was told after conversation 3 that I wasn't a fit but after the final conversation (number 9) to be told job is mine and await offer letter to be told..actually, the job doesn't exist - ridiculous!

Stheno

vicky7833 wrote: »

It wouldn't bother me as much if I was told after conversation 3 that I wasn't a fit but after the final conversation to be told job is mine and await offer letter to be told the job doesn't exist - ridiculous!

I'd a similar experience, granted with a very large company, was told after seven interviews over three months that it went to an internal candidate.

It's just how they work.

I'd not be giving them negative feedback, they may well come back to you in the future.

vicky7833

Stheno wrote: »

I'd a similar experience, granted with a very large company, was told after seven interviews over three months that it went to an internal candidate.

It's just how they work.

I'd not be giving them negative feedback, they may well come back to you in the future.

I do get your point completely and maybe if I take a few days I wont be so bothered and it's not worth burning bridges but did they tell you you (verbally) that you had the job and ask you to hand in your notice...thats the part that is really bothering me. I could have handed in notice to a very large company to take a risk with a company less established and 1/5 as profitable

Stheno

vicky7833 wrote: »

I do get your point completely and maybe if I take a few days I wont be so bothered and it's not worth burning bridges but did they tell you you (verbally) that you had the job and ask you to hand in your notice...thats the part that is really bothering me. I could have handed in notice to a very large company to take a risk with a company less established and 1/5 as profitable

They literally told me that contract discussions were the next stage, but they were happy with what I'd requested, and to expect a contract following the final stage.

Then after that final interview I was told an internal candidate got it.

I'd never take any notice of being told to hand in notice, and would never do it without a contract signed by both parties.

vicky7833

Stheno wrote: »

They literally told me that contract discussions were the next stage, but they were happy with what I'd requested, and to expect a contract following the final stage.

Then after that final interview I was told an internal candidate got it.

I'd never take any notice of being told to hand in notice, and would never do it without a contract signed by both parties.

I am sorry to hear you had an experience like this. I guess I have been fortunate to be offered roles and actually sent a contract after the first few interviews so cest la vie I guess and an experience... will take them with a pinch of salt going forward....maybe also stay away from American companies!!! (Joke)..kind of.

I can imagine this would to be hugely disappointing for someone that may be currently unemployed and had to go to some monetary loss in order to make interviews.

Stheno

vicky7833 wrote: »

I am sorry to hear you had an experience like this. I guess I have been fortunate to be offered roles and actually sent a contract after the first few interviews so cest la vie I guess and an experience... will take them with a pinch of salt going forward....maybe also stay away from American companies!!! (Joke)..kind of.

I can imagine this would to be hugely disappointing for someone that may be currently unemployed and had to go to some monetary loss in order to make interviews.

Honestly I wasn't too worried, it was a speculative thing on my part.

Utah

Was there not a HR/recruiter person organising all these calls and interviews? Can you ask them for feedback?

vicky7833

Utah wrote: »

Was there not a HR/recruiter person organising all these calls and interviews? Can you ask them for feedback?

There was a HR scheduler who is basically told what to do by the interviewers and all they do is schedule the interviews after reaching out to me, based on direction by the interviewers.

Another issue was they sent me a rejection email for the 2nd (least favourable) position within the company I applied to and on the same day sent me an email and invited to me another Skype interview. When I asked what was the correct email for me they sincerely apologized and said to ignore the rejection email.

I just would like people to know the experience I had. Glassdoor.com is an option

reallyrose

What level of seniority was this role? That number of interviews is very unusual for anything lower than director level jobs.

The longest process I have seen lately was a 5 round process. It was 5 rather than 4 because someone wasn't available for an earlier call and they wanted the candidate to speak to him before signing off.

Were they apologetic about the rejection after making a verbal offer?

vicky7833

reallyrose wrote: »

What level of seniority was this role? That number of interviews is very unusual for anything lower than director level jobs.

The longest process I have seen lately was a 5 round process. It was 5 rather than 4 because someone wasn't available for an earlier call and they wanted the candidate to speak to him before signing off.

Were they apologetic about the rejection after making a verbal offer?

This was the reply after 9 days waiting on an update and it wasn't of a senior level, experienced but not managerial: (Bearing in mind I was advised the next step was my offer letter as he had told me I had the job)

"Unfortunately I don’t have the news you’re hoping for. We are continuing to scope and define the new role we have been discussing, and we’re not ready as an organization to move forward with a candidate yet. I sincerely apologize for this, as I think you’d be a great employee here but we’re really stumbling on our recruitment process. The current question out there is whether we need to hire more technical people into this role, which is not something we have today.

I really apologize for the moving target here and hope you understand it was certainly nothing to do with you. Should things change from the current position, I’ll definitely reach out to see if you’re still on the market."

I interviewed for a job that didn't exist as I can't see what I could have done wrong after our 9th and final conversation.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

reallyrose

vicky7833 wrote: »

This was the reply after 9 days waiting on an update and it wasn't of a senior level, experienced but not managerial: (Bearing in mind I was advised the next step was my offer letter as he had told me I had the job)

"Unfortunately I don’t have the news you’re hoping for. We are continuing to scope and define the new role we have been discussing, and we’re not ready as an organization to move forward with a candidate yet. I sincerely apologize for this, as I think you’d be a great employee here but we’re really stumbling on our recruitment process. The current question out there is whether we need to hire more technical people into this role, which is not something we have today.

I really apologize for the moving target here and hope you understand it was certainly nothing to do with you. Should things change from the current position, I’ll definitely reach out to see if you’re still on the market."

I interviewed for a job that didn't exist as I can't see what I could have done wrong after our 9th and final conversation.

Ok, that's not the worst. It looks like someone at a high level pulled the job or changed the spec. This happens and it's SUCKY when it does.
They should have had meetings internally to figure out what they wanted before going to interview.
It sounds like they really wanted to hire you but couldn't get sign off internally. Which can be down to poor planning but doesn't mean the job wasn't there in the first place.

.. I hate it when they move the goalposts. "actually, when we said we wanted a giraffe, we really need a something like a giraffe, but shorter and with a trunk. Actually, we need an elephant. SORRY BAI"

Email back expressing disappointment and then you can leave the door open if you want them to get back in touch.
"I'm very disappointed to hear about this, especially as it seemed like an offer would be coming through. I was looking forward to working with (someone), (doing relevant thing.)
I will continue to actively search for jobs but if you have a clear path to hiring in the near future, please get in touch."

(leave the last bit out if you really don't want to work with them any more.)

vicky7833

reallyrose wrote: »

.. I hate it when they move the goalposts. "actually, when we said we wanted a giraffe, we really need a something like a giraffe, but shorter and with a trunk. Actually, we need an elephant. SORRY BAI"

:) Funny reply but I say very true.

There are a lot of bad reviews about them on Glassdoor but I like to use my own judgement and make own opinions which sometimes can be the wrong move. I guess my experience at the recruiting process without even getting the job shows that they would be like to work for.

vicky7833

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

That's great you managed to get a better position and 5 years is a nice time. I'd say that Google data is very accurate. How much more can a person do or answer to show they are more than competent for a role after getting past the opinion of 4 separate people..actually forgot to mention I also did an assessment after the in-office interview too!

Irish_Elect_Eng

This sort of experience can be demoralizing. But the key is to not take it personally. I have been in both the position of having to jump through the hoops of interviewing for a job that was in the process of being approved and trying to line up candidates for a job that is not fully approved yet.

This is more reflective of how large american corporations work in general and not as big a reflection on "most" of the folks that you talked with, they were probably just doing the best with the information and authority that they had.

On the positive side, you impressed them and they wanted you for the role.

Irish_Elect_Eng

Oh....

And far from being " Worst interview experience / prospective employer ever"

Eugene Norman

It looks like you weren't suitable for one job and one of your interviewers thought you might be suitable for another and tried to create that role but failed.

Painful on the outside nevertheless.

Stealthfins

A friend of mine was hood winked by a company,promised all kinds of benefits and a good bonus structure.
Training was also included.

She had a great job where she was the assistant manager and content

Anyhow she seen an advert for a job where she could work from home with a well known international company.
Working on a PC doing sales and customer service etc...

I read the advertisement,looked good on paper but I could smell a rat,there was all these modern day buzz words and sound bites flashing from it.

Something that can catch a slightly naive or gullible person,and another person can read through the bull****.

I preferred the old way of job advertisement.
Just a basic advertisement looking for workers.
None of this bull**** of prospective employer's asking people do they want to be part of a dynamic team.

Do you like traveling ?

If so you can drive all over the country trying to sell our ****ty product,we sacked the last four commercial sales people because they weren't great at lying.

Maybe you are better at bull****ting you also need to be able to lick ass and capitulate and will hit better targets, we're counting on you.

So drive all over the ****ing country,get really tired and stressed out.
Stay in ****ty accommodation,basically we will own you and your self-esteem.

We're a dynamic company,we'll **** down on top of ya......

on_my_oe

I interviewed with an American company back in 2012. The second round was a one to one with the Irish reporting manager. She spent five minutes telling me her children were working in Australia, Canada and New Zealand, then asked me why I was in Ireland applying for Irish jobs when Ireland was in a recession. They asked me to come back for the third round but declined. I've been approached twice since by them, but declined both times.
If I'm asked to interview more three times, I remove myself from the process - I'm not at director level, so there is no need for repeated interviews.