Didn't answer phone...now won't get an interview. Really!? (employee, applying, unemployed)

[gobucks86]

Well this just takes the cake for me...

I currently have a retail job I'm looking to get out of because its not a career for me and I have a college degree I want to use. You know, I'm one of the many out there just like a lot of you people unfortunately. It's tough out there

ANYWAYS, I applied for a position online with a very reputable place around here. I'm very qualified for the position and was excited at the idea of a position at this place. Well, I was at work the other day (Tuesday) and was working the afternoon shift. I got off of work about 10pm and saw I had a voice mail from the place from 4:30pm. I was excited. The voice mail stated they received my information and was interested in bringing me in for an interview. I thought awesome, here's my break!!

So, since it's 10pm I obviously don't call because their not there. I emailed the woman when I got home and apologized for not being able to answer as I was at work. So, Wednesday rolls by and I assume I'd hear something. Nope, nothing. Okay, Thursday comes by and I call them and it goes straight to the hiring managers voice mail. I leave a message. Okay, so Friday comes by and close to 5pm I receive an email stating that I was not being considered anymore because since I didn't answer my phone, they contacted other candidates who were available to talk and that they were moving forward with them and I was no longer being considered.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?

[seain dublin]

I would have emailed them back and said as you stated here that you were at work and you didn't return the call that night as it was after hours, but you did follow up your email with a phone call.

Sounds like another idiotic HR person making up their own rules.

How is answering the phone when they call a determination that these people will be any good? A very foolish way to pick people to interview or not interview.

And the hiring manager needs to be fired, because according to their logic an employee must always be available to answer the phone.

They didn't answer their phone, so they shouldn't be working there.

[STT Resident]

Employers are damned if they do and damned if they don't. The company obviously had scores of qualified applicants and went down the list calling people. When you weren't there they went to the next person and so on and they quickly found someone who WAS available right there and then, the person was interviewed and was hired. And now you've got your knickers in a twist because they actually (and unusually given the plethora of posts on the subject) got back to you and gave you a truthful response.

That's the reality and, although it's understandable that you're disappointed, it's hard to understand why you're miffed. Your better response would be to email them and tell them that if in the future they have more similar vacancies you would very much like to be considered.

[Hemlock140]

STT is right, employers get way too many applicants than practical to interview, so will take any
opportunity to limit the number. It would have been better if they had given a time frame on the call, such as "call today by 5pm or we will replace you on the list" but you wouldn't have made that either.
My suggestion is that in the future you access voice mail from work on breaks after applying for jobs.

[crankywithakeyboard]

Sorry that happened. But congratulations for being one of about 10 people on Earth who don't play on their cell phones all day while at work.

[Ronclimer]

STT has it absolutly correct. The person that is hiring wants to solve his problem, not yours. Just get on to the next opportunity and try to respond quicker next time.

[Rambler123]

Typical modern idiocy - lazy HR people doing whatever they can to trash as many candidates as possible. This is similar to "no unemployed need apply," extreme local candidates only, laughable job descriptions, and so on.

Crud like this is a prime example as to why the economy is not recovering - decent people can't get jobs based on idiotic things, such as if they were able to answer their phone at one specific time. This is also a great way to NOT hire the best people for the job since the company was willing to ignore a good choice based solely on if you answered your phone immediately. Ugh...

[bande1102]

This has happened to me on numerous occasions. I apply for a job, get a callback requesting an interview. I call them back (within hours) and either never talk to them again or am told the position has been filled. This does seem to be happening more frequently. My current employer does it, too. At my current corp, the powers that be seem to think that we should all be available 24/7 and have our cell phones permanently attached--which is one of the reasons why I'm looking for another job to begin with. If a potential applicant isn't immediately available, they move on to someone who is. I look at it as dodging a bullet when I miss that call.

[statisticsnerd]

Originally Posted by bande1102

At my current corp, the powers that be seem to think that we should all be available 24/7 and have our cell phones permanently attached--which is one of the reasons why I'm looking for another job to begin with.

My former employer had the gall to call me once while I was ON VACATION, meaning I was taking time off that I had accumulated for MYSELF. It wasn't an emergency either, just a general question he had regarding something I was working on. I started looking for a new job the day I got back from that trip. I don't regret leaving that place at all.

I do not belong to my employer, and he does not own my life. MY TIME is MY TIME. Many employers don't seem to get that.

[Crazee Cat Lady]

I would give them your cell phone number, from now on and even if you cannot answer while at work, you could call back at break time. (It's a very tough job market out there)