Prospective Employers: Rude, Rude, Rude! (employment, average, interview, employer)

[supernaut112]

I'm an independent contractor, and I've finally decided that I need to get back into the traditional workplace — mainly for tax reasons. I'm getting hammered by self-employment tax and having to pay for my own health insurance.

I haven't interviewed in a while (five years on my own), and I must say ... I've run across some of the most rude, inconsiderate and sometimes downright juvenile prospective employers.

One phoned me up wanting to know if I could come in for an interview "immediately." As in RIGHT NOW WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. Seriously — ? I was working on a project out of town and therefore couldn't do the "right now" thing. Employer said he would call back the next morning to schedule a time to meet — and never did.

Another sent me an email asking me what specific day I could come in, giving me a rough calendar of his availability. I responded with the day and asked for a specific time to come in. Employer did not respond. I send a second email, just in case my first one didn't get read. Again, no response.

A third employer interviewed me via phone, and let me know that I made the first cut. Indicated that I would receive a follow-up phone call to schedule an in-person interview the following week. Ended on a great note. But employer never contacted me again.

The fourth obviously couldn't figure out how email attachments worked. Asked me to send my resume in .doc format — well, I already had, but ... To humor the person, I sent the same resume again (in .doc format, as requested). Employer again emailed me, asking me to send my resume; they couldn't see the attachment. I. Give. Up.

The fifth was the worst. I get the impression that this person was rather young and didn't know a lot about the hiring process. Sent me an absurd questionnaire with extremely personal questions on it. I did not fill it out.

I realize that times are tough, and employers still can pick and choose. Don't get me wrong — I've had some great in-person interviews in the past couple of weeks, so I'm not saying that this type of unprofessional behavior is across the board or even par for the course. However, it floors me that people would actually do this, especially in my profession (law). Fortunately, I am in a position to be selective. Otherwise, I'd be weeping and beating my head against my desk.

Has anyone else experienced this, or is it just me?

[sas0814]

Originally Posted by supernaut112

Fortunately, I am in a position to be selective.

Has anyone else experienced this, or is it just me?

Yes it's just you, i'm not in this position.

[BlindAlleyKat]

I don't think it's completely rude employer's, though. People are just extremely busy these days and as sad as it sounds, if you're not what they want they don't have time for civilities.

[Remote_Control]

Originally Posted by BlindAlleyKat

I don't think it's completely rude employer's, though. People are just extremely busy these days

Busy with what? People are busy with pointless "busy work" and family drama and that's about it.

[BlindAlleyKat]

Originally Posted by Remote_Control

Busy with what? People are busy with pointless "busy work" and family drama and that's about it.

Well, I haven't met that group yet. The people I work with are extremely busy, myself included. I have no family drama, busy work, etc. I do not reply to emails that are not directly related to attaining my goals for the day because I simply do not have time for it. Many people do not reply to me. It's just the way it is. I don't take offense to it because I know they are not being rude; they are just really busy.

[supernaut112]

Originally Posted by BlindAlleyKat

I don't think it's completely rude employer's, though. People are just extremely busy these days and as sad as it sounds, if you're not what they want they don't have time for civilities.

I humbly disagree.

I've no problem with a "no response." But if someone indicates to me that they wish to interview me, I either expect the interview or a brief phone call or email indicating that the interview is cancelled.

I have been on the H.R. side before, and never has this behavior been considered remotely acceptable.

[Lodestar 77]

I used to tell my retired husband "you wouldn't be able to hack it in a (pt, Home Depot type) job today". This generation is the technology generation, the "me" generation, the gamer generation. Even I have experienced that (almost) nobody does anything over and above what they HAVE to do. They are slower than dog s#&* when it is busy and lined up. They don't take the initiative to learn how their job "flows" with others, or know how to even transfer phone calls. My last job was great, but very busy, and I had to "lower my standards" to get everything required of me done daily. But I made it a point to see how what I did affected others jobs, and how theirs affected mine. I am hoping not to have to go back to work when I move back to my home state. I don't have the patience for incompetence or rudeness.

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by Michigan Transplant

I used to tell my retired husband "you wouldn't be able to hack it in a (pt, Home Depot type) job today". This generation is the technology generation, the "me" generation, the gamer generation. Even I have experienced that (almost) nobody does anything over and above what they HAVE to do. They are slower than dog s#&* when it is busy and lined up. They don't take the initiative to learn how their job "flows" with others, or know how to even transfer phone calls. My last job was great, but very busy, and I had to "lower my standards" to get everything required of me done daily. But I made it a point to see how what I did affected others jobs, and how theirs affected mine. I am hoping not to have to go back to work when I move back to my home state. I don't have the patience for incompetence or rudeness.

FYI, it's mostly the Baby Boomers who are still running things in your average business, not the "me" generation (then again, I guess they technically are the original "me" generation).

[Lodestar 77]

I'm not talking about the "suits", I'm talking about the "grunt workers". And the Boomer "me" generation is MUCH different that the current "me" generation. Let's not get into a pis*ing match, OK?

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by Michigan Transplant

I'm not talking about the "suits", I'm talking about the "grunt workers".

Sincee you want to go there, if have any idea as to how a business operates, the quality of service and production of thde grunt workers only reflects the decisions of the suits.