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I want to share my experience with an interview I had this past Monday.
Last Thursday I received an email from a construction company I applied to for an estimating position stating that they received my resume and that they were wondering what I was seeking as an hourly wage. I replied to the email and sent it off. Two hours later I received another email asking if I was available to interview the following day- Friday. I replied that I could not attend to interview on Friday due to another appointment already scheduled on that day way back when. I replied that I could go for an interview Saturday or even Sunday (I knew that would be a no since it was Superbowl weekend) or Monday or Tuesday at any hour the firm found convenient. Later I received another email saying that Monday at 11:30 am would be good. I replied to the email saying that would be fine.
Fast forward to Monday: I'm in my car on the driveway ready to head out to the interview when I check my emails on my iPhone. I noticed an email from the construction company stating that unfortunately the position was already given to someone else. Then above that email (newer email) I noticed another email from the company stating for me to ignore their previous email because it was sent out by mistake. RED FLAG.
I head out to the interview- about 15 minutes away. The receptionist escorts me to the office of the young lady that will interview me. I walk in, greet her, introduce myself and shake her hand. She looks at me funny. BAM!! I knew I was not getting the job at that very split second while shaking her hand. I also noticed that she had a pile of resumes on her desk and she didn't even have mine on the top of her pile and ready for an interview. I knew she was only going through the motions so I wouldn't feel the interview was a waste of time. She asked me only TWO questions and everything else she mentioned was merely a repeat of what was already outlined on my resume. The interview lasted exactly 8 minutes. As I walked to my car I knew that this whole thing was a complete waste of time.
Two hours later while at home I receive an email from the young lady thanking me for 'interviewing' that morning but the position was given to someone else and she wished me good luck with my job search. I know it wasn't my experience or the desired wage that were issues otherwise I never would have been selected for an interview. I lived close to the job and she even mentioned that during the interview. The work schedule wasn't a problem (one of the two questions). My only conclusion is that she didn't like the way I looked and/or I wasn't young enough for the job and she just attempted to conduct something of an interview. She made up her mind the very second she saw me that I wasn't getting the position. Attitude was not an issue because during the interview I only received two questions and never went into depth about anything because of the way she was conducting the 'interview'. She never asked me the important questions like how will I help the company be better or what do I think my weaknesses are.... you know, the REAL 'interview' questions. What I learned on Monday was if getting hired depends on being young and handsome I'm totally f****d. Also, what's with all the emailing? Why no phone calls?
Sounds more like they decided on the person they wanted to hire and were then told that they HAD to interview a few candidates.. And you were likely one of those that was never going to get the job, but since you lived close, they didn't feel as bad calling you in to waste your time, since you lived close.
Sounds more like they decided on the person they wanted to hire and were then told that they HAD to interview a few candidates.. And you were likely one of those that was never going to get the job, but since you lived close, they didn't feel as bad calling you in to waste your time, since you lived close.
Agreed. The young lady wanting to interview you is probably new at this. She probably decided on who to hire, but then after sending out her cancelation emails she realized that she had to have so and so many interviews to show to her superiors that she really tried to look for the best candidate for them. You were never going to get that job.
Ugh.. ever read something you wrote in a quote and then see how crappy it was worded? Did I stress enough that I thought it was because he lived close?
Would your resume imply you're younger than you actually are? I'm just wondering if the age thing is true and they thought you were younger before interviewing you. Although I think it's more likely that the job was filled already as others have posted.
Interviews are never a waste of time. I always considered them practice and you can never have too much practice.
Do you think that it's worth $1,000 for a practice session? Cause that's what it would cost if you had to fly yourself somewhere for an interview.
I agree that an interview is worth the practice if it's convenient enough for you to take the time and do it. If you're having to really go out of your way, then the company better actually be considering you, or else they're real jerks.
Agreed. The young lady wanting to interview you is probably new at this. She probably decided on who to hire, but then after sending out her cancelation emails she realized that she had to have so and so many interviews to show to her superiors that she really tried to look for the best candidate for them. You were never going to get that job.
She must be new. She can actually get in legal trouble, especially if the op is of some minority status.
Do you think that it's worth $1,000 for a practice session? Cause that's what it would cost if you had to fly yourself somewhere for an interview.
I agree that an interview is worth the practice if it's convenient enough for you to take the time and do it. If you're having to really go out of your way, then the company better actually be considering you, or else they're real jerks.
Well, in this case the person being interviewed lived close to the company and had told them to pick any time on Monday or Tuesday, which suggests that it wouldn't be that hard for the person to go in for an interview. Of course, it always sucks to feel like an interview was a waste of time.
It does seem to me that the company already knew who they were hiring, but had to interview a certain amount of people just in case. I don't think it was ageism or anything else - after all, the woman didn't even have his resume on the top of the pile, which suggests she wasn't serious about the interview before she saw him.
Sounds more like they decided on the person they wanted to hire and were then told that they HAD to interview a few candidates.. And you were likely one of those that was never going to get the job, but since you lived close, they didn't feel as bad calling you in to waste your time, since you lived close.
BINGO! Happened to me, once! Never again.
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