Dear Work Coach,
I just found your blog and absolutely love it! You have a lot of great information and advice on your site. I have a question for you I am sure you get all of the time but I’m at a loss on what to do at this point.
I had an interview last Tuesday (18th) that I thought went really well. It lasted an hour and a half (someone had to knock on the hiring manager’s door to stop the interview for her next appointment). I really like the hiring manager and she seemed to like me. She said she was down to 5 candidates that she wanted to have interviewed by the end of last week. She said she has been doing this a long time and I am definitely on the top of her list. The only concern she had was that I might be overqualified for the position but she wasn’t sure. She mentioned that could be to her advantage as I would be able to help her execute some strategic programs she wants to implement. She said she wanted to have me come back next week (which is this week) for 30 – 45 minutes to get a feel for the position, kind of a “day in the life of” this management position. She also said that the next step after that would to bring the top 2 candidates back for an interview with her team.
I followed up with an email thank you letter the next day, reiterating my enthusiasm for the position and why I think it would be challenging given the region and the change in industry.
I never heard back from her, no response to my emails. Late Monday afternoon I left her a message on her voice mail. I wasn’t pushy, just said that I wanted to follow-up with her to discuss setting up a time to come back (like we discussed). That was 2 days ago and I still haven’t heard anything. It seems really odd to me. Do you have any thoughts or advice?
Thanks,
Anne
***
Hi Anne!
Thanks for the kind words. And even though I get lots of question about interviews, each one has its own interesting twist. Like yours.
It really does sound like you have done everything well. Great interview. Good follow up. Able to field the “too qualified” comment with a good comeback. Although I wish I had a way of figuring out what they are thinking, truth is…it could be lots of things. Maybe she or someone else critical to the process is sick. Maybe an emergency came up. Maybe they haven’t been able to finish the five interviews yet. Maybe they found someone they made an offer to despite what was said – if a perfect fit walked in the door after she met with you, it just could have changed their plans. Maybe they just can’t get past all your experience despite how well you handled your answer – niggling doubts sometimes grow when fed by the input of others. But maybe it is as simple as they just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
It’s only been a week and time feels very different on the employer end. (It’s like dog years!) I like that you are an action person looking to help yourself, but at this point you really have done all you can and now it’s time to just wait. I know it’s hard – and I’m sorry about that. Do what you can to keep busy with other things. If it’s the right job, you will get it. If not, then you might very well have lucked out for reasons you will never know!
I wish you much luck, Anne. Please let us know what happens.
Ronnie Ann
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Stuck in the Waiting Game After 2nd Interview
Agencies are the worst…they call you cause you have applied to a position they have..they rush you over to their office, and then weeks go by and nothing. I understand they wait on the company to move on the candidates..however, there is no excuse for agencies not to followup on their Rush rush attitude..its overwhelming for people not to at least hear back on something..I am more than frustrated by this..and find it irresponsible on their part. Looking for a job is a job in itself..and frustrating, disappointing..the people who have called back or see my resume on an employment website are what I like to refer as survival jobs..wow, do I really want a survival job..then have to look for a job that can actually pay the bills!!!!! I guess I basically have no choice..cause I need the money…but, what do you say to these jobs when they ask “So why do you want to work here for minimum wage”…I don’t really, cause I know in a couple of months Im out looking again…So upset…
Wow. They actually ask you “Why do you want to work here for minimum wage?”
I can only assume that you were paid much more at your prior job or jobs and they do not believe that you will stay with them. And, they’re right, because you intend to keep looking for a higher paying job and leave them.
Minimum wage jobs have very high attrition rates, and they know that, but they don’t want to hire anyone who is desperate to make enough money for one or two months’ rent or a car payment and then will quit. That happens a lot.
The only response I can come up with for you is “I am a responsible person who has always worked, want to work and I am interested in working for you. I assume that the pay you are offering is fair and reasonable for the position, and I accept that.” I guess you may need to practice saying that with a straight face, but that’s okay.
The typical agency cares only about its clients. They have no use for someone who is not immediately chosen by a client for an open position. They will lie to you and string you along. They have no loyalty to you. Don’t let it get to you. The goal is to use them, not to let them use you.
Thanks for all the great advice..sure to use it..plus you made me laugh…and yes I will have to try to put on a straight face while in the interview for when they ask that question again..
Well, I have sent out well over 500 applications and resumes. I landed a grand total of 6 interviews and here are the results:
1- very famous nonprofit. Interview went well, I was asked to solve a certain hypothetical problem. Nailed it. Got a letter about a week later rejecting me; saw the new person on TV using my idea and taking credit for it.
Lesson learned: there is plenty of time to write a thanks but no thanks…and never give up your intellectual property.
#2 was with a large company and once again I hit it out of the park; was told I would know in 2 weeks. Sent the TY note and got an email a couple of weeks later that they are evaluating things.
Then radio silence. Not a peep. Two months later I send another email and the HR person said they added responsibilities that are out of my scope and are not considering me anymore.
Lesson learned: sometimes you need to press for an answer.
#3 was a F500 energy company. Once again the interview went well, they flew me in, put me up, and took care of me. Was told the industry standard…2 weeks.
They actually proved true to their word; though I did not get the job, the HM called to say it boiled down to me an one candidate…she was local. About 5 weeks later I got the rejection email boilerplate from HR.
Lesson learned: some companies do it right.
#4 was a minimum wage job at a store in the mall, because I was running out of money and options. I got hired, but then a natural disaster hit, and I never heard from them again. Power was out for 2 weeks, so they probably did not need help now.
Lesson learned: a hurricane can blow a job away as fast as you receive it.
#5- another F500 company. This was my best chance of a job. Interview went well, TY notes went in the mail. Heard from one of my interviewers by email regarding TY notes…wished me luck. Was also told industry standard…2 weeks.
I got the job offer exactly 2 weeks after the interview.
No lessons here, though the gentle teasing I got about TY notes shows how rare they are received by interviewers.
#6 is another F500 company since my company is in an M&A situation I am exploring options. Got a phone interview, was told (sing it) 2 weeks. Got a call 5 weeks later (they ahd updated their HR site where I applied about 3.5 weeks later.) Flew me out, put me up, great interview. Was told (hit it, Pearl) 2 weeks…and there would be another round of interviews so this was not the final round.
That was almost 6 weeks ago.
Sent a follow-up email to the HM inquiring where they are at in the process.
Got crickets.
Sent my reimbursement claim to HR, and the check was in my mailbox less than 2 weeks after I mailed it to them. At least the money side is fast, but HR had to process that so they are quick in that respect.
No lesson yet, though it would appear that I did not get to the next round…and how hard is it to send a canned email letting people know that.
Josie,
Surely the Work Coach Cafe community thanks you for putting your experiences into writing. Many lessons learned and many more to follow!
Best of luck,
- The Work Coach Cafe Team
In an afternote I got word from Indeed and an outside recruiter I had forgotten about. Same job title. Same description almost verbatim. “Company confidential”.
Seriously? They have not even sent out rejection letters and they are back to looking again? Or perhaps had a contract with said company to repost…though not really buying it.
Josie,
Is your new post about job #6 from your prior post?
I have seen this happen at the company where I formerly worked. It was for a treasury position. We interviewed 8 people in person. The ultimate decision was up to the Treasurer. He chose a candidate that none of us had picked as the best choice. Offered him the job. The candidate knew the compensation package, but tried to negotiate for a bigger compensation and relocation package that was way beyond what the Treasurer wanted to pay. Treasurer said no. Candidate: gone. Position: vacant. Treasurer did not go back to the other candidates who had interviewed. Nobody had notified those candidates that an offer had been made to someone else. A few months’ later, when some new senior managers joined a subsidiary that worked closely with treasury every day and did not particularly respect the Treasurer, those senior managers had power within the company and managed to get someone hired into treasury who they knew. Ironically, she had interviewed the first time around but had not been selected. Within a year, the Treasurer was demoted, sent to another department, and that new hire was promoted to Treasurer. She was absolutely qualified and she had an “in.”
So, if you are still interested in the position and have any contacts there, and you are fully qualified, call them. Apply again.
Yes, this is for the #6 job. No updates on their application site. No phone calls or emails either offering or rejecting. Reposted on a recruiting site with a couple of other jobs which make it obvious the position is with the same company.
I applied for it on the recruiter site, though I have never had any recruiter ever respond.
Hey Josie,
I feel your pain, its so utterly ridiculous that these recruiters have not taken responsibility to respond..yes they have a job..so they don’t have the urgency. I have decided to stop looking on any recruiter sites as for me my experiences with them have been a dead end. As in my last post, I had rushed to a second recruiter to be given the run around about a job I was qualified for..it was a temp position no less..ah, I am unemployed..funds are limited..therefore, rushing around for jobs to agencies to then be told nothing..no followups..Nothing…ya, they are busy..blah blah..aren’t we all..anyways, my point is either agencies and or companies have the ability to return calls..or send rejection letter, or even status update..but, most of don’t..its rather disconserting and frustrating
I have overthought the interview so much.
I think that is why a recent interview did not go too great. I kept worrying about what I was saying and how that I forgot what I was saying.
Do you get me? It is hard to relax and be yourself when you desparately want/need a job. The thought that it is a big competition (especially in today’s economy) is way too depressing.
Hi Julie,
I sympathize with you about over thinking. Sometimes, in the middle of an interview, a voice in my head tells me that I am talking too much, or being too excited, and then I get even more nervous. I have left interviews thinking that I totally blew it many times.
I find that “just relax and be yourself” causes me trouble because I am a social person, comfortable with everyone I meet, and end up being too talkative and come across as not serious enough.
If I force myself to give short answers, never try to fill in the silent spots and actually smile less, I do better.
In other words, I have to suppress my personality and put on on an act.
I will definitely remember to put on an act next time. I am a substitute teacher and I can definitely do that. I did not get the job that I was obsessing about. I did receive feedback from the interviewer. Basically, I was overqualified for the position. That is hard to take when you seriously need/want a job. They went with a less qualified person that had subbed as an aide for the district before. I am hopeful that next fall may bring the full time teaching position that I have always wanted. I need to concentrate a doing the best that I can subbing and work on getting some top notch letters of reference this year. Thank you for your support.
Well, in another layer of weird…I got a call from the company. However the VM cut off as though it was disconnected. I called HM who did not return my call. I called HR, and the person is no longer working there. I got a new person who left a message for the recruiter handling this group. Nothing yet.
I figure this one won’t pan out at all, but I do have a job for the time being. And even if it does come through, is the extra 35K a year really worth working with people like this.
Josie – Hang in there, the hiring process can be fluid! Hopefully you will get a call back from them soon.
- The Work Coach Cafe Team
I got in touch with another HR person who is sitting at the desk of my former HR person. She is no longer there. She said “they never called you?” She passed a message on to my recruiter who did the phone interview.
I heard nothing and last night got the automated HR email boilerplate “thank you for applying, we have chosen better suited candidates for this position.”
Applying??? I interviewed. Twice. Thanks for nothing.
I completely agree with you. Here we are needing a job, and these interviewers treat us like we are at thier mercy and they are doing us a favor. I feel that 100% of companies and thier appointed interviewers have no manners what so ever. They need us, all we want is the advertised job. They waste our time when they give us timelines for when they will contact us whether we get the job or don’t, and don’t contact us at all. They do not have any courtesy, so why should we give it to them by sending them a “thank you” note. Like you said, we already said thank you for thier time and the interview. How many times have they said “thank you” to us for the time we have taken to see them? NEVER. So no, I do not feel they need another thank you from us. They already got one in person from us. They should be thanking us for making the time to see them. The thank you note rule that is taught to us is a lousy rule. I will thank them a second time ONLY after I am officially hired.
Gina,
I agree with you. The next time that I have interviews on-site, I will do as I always do, which is smile, shake hands and say thank you at the end of each interview. And, no more thank you notes. I have struggled over thank you notes too many times, only to be disappointed when I receive no acknowledgement and then have to follow the second rule; wait another 2 weeks before calling to ask about my status. And then, if they tell me about my status and give me a timeline, which is rare, wait for that additional period of time to follow up again. Meanwhile, they are contacting the person they want to hire and give an offer.
I’m a bit confused, I’d appreciate any thoughts you might have. Maybe someone from an HR background can help me decipher this.
7 weeks ago I was called for an interview, I was to be one among many candidates. After that I had 5 interviews including a panel interviews and I met 15 people at directorial level. The HR was very prompt in setting up the interviews and getting back to me on everything that was needed. During the last interview I was told that the decision needs to be made in two days at the latest. So I followed up after the two days only to hear from HR that she HOPES to have something the following day. It’s been two weeks now and I emailed and left a message to the HR to get back. All I would like to know if it is a simple yes or no.
Do I understand that I need to move on or is there HOPE? Can anyone help me understand?
Thanks a ton!
I am not an HR person.
I do not want to tell you to give up hope. Although, I will say that “hope” is not really a helpful emotion in today’s job market. Better is: telling yourself that you WILL get a job, the right job, eventually, even though it will be hell along the way, and continue to look for and apply to jobs.
I do have one question, however.
If you met with people who would be your colleagues, and, I assume, the person to whom you would report, why not try to contact that person? HR can’t do anything without information from the decision maker. HR is not making the decision about you.
You are in good company. although I realize knowing that will not make you feel better.
None of us understand why we are treated with “silence” or given useless status information after we have expended so much effort during the application, interview and follow-up process. The only answer is that it is a buyer’s market and we are all at a severe disadvantage.
@Cheerful: There is HOPE in moving on!
I understand where you are coming from as I have been in the same situation more than once. But the job search in the 21st century is akin to teenage dating. You can’t put all your eggs in one basket hoping the person you treated oh so well will call you back based on the merits of your personality alone.
I have been a corporate recruiter in HR departments as well working on the agency level. What goes on behind the scenes in some cases is nothing short of a comedy of errors at best. It doesn’t matter if you turned water into wine before the staff or have a free cure for cancer. At the end of the day, the person who may get hired is the one who “clicks” the most with everyone while being interviewed. The skill set is icing on the cake. Seen it more than a dozen times.
So keep looking…try to be so busy you barely noticed Lame Inc hasn’t given prompt feedback as promised.
And for those drawing unemployment I know “moving on” can be difficult because each week we are tasked with honestly reporting to the state what we have been doing in order to justify a weekly benefit. Take good notes and make sure unemployment has all the facts when you file. From there, for the sake of your own sanity, just keep moving toward other opportunities out there.
As trite and well worn as this may sound, what we do with adversity in our lives says more about us than just giving into being hard-done-by. : )
I can see there is alot of frustrated people here, and understandable too. I am in the same position with hearing back (or should I say not hearing back). Im tired of the excuses..HR is busy, the person you interviewed with is busy..Oh, we aren’t Im sure!!!! Its there job to be more professional, and do they not remember how it felt for them. Do any of these people remember what that was like. Whats the silly saying “think outside the box”..stop and remember..do more than your job..its ridiculous that it takes weeks..it shouldn’t..just followup!!!!! at least in a 1 week timeframe..my question at an interview is, “so how soon do you want the position filled”, their stock answer is immediately..right!!!! their immediate is several weeks, and possibly months..or no answer at all..grrrrr…yes we are at a severe disadvantage..we are at their mercy
I think that we deserve at least a maybe after the interview. It should not be a human torture exercise to find out either way. I think that there is such a big pool of qualified applicants that it is
an employers market right now. Kind of like a buyers market in real estate. Hopefully, the economy will turn around soon. Heads up everybody. Take what you can if you can and keep looking. Did you ever think of saying something like this, “I have another job offer on the table and I really need an answer one way or the other today.” Maybe that would make them stand up and take notice. I realize that is like presenting your self like a commodity. However, dwelling on one possible opportunity puts you in a predicament of maybe missing the best job ever. Hope this helps some of you.
I think that there is such a big pool of qualified applicants that it is an employers market right now. Kind of like a buyers market in real estate. Hopefully, the economy will turn around soon. Heads up everybody. Take what you can if you can and keep looking. Did you ever think of saying something like this, “I have another job offer on the table and I really need an answer one way or the other today.” Maybe that would make them stand up and take notice. I realize that is like presenting your self like a commodity. However, dwelling on one possible opportunity puts you in a predicament of maybe missing the best job ever. Hope this helps some of you.
I think that there is such a big pool of qualified applicants that it is an employers market right now. Kind of like a buyers market in real estate. Heads up everybody. Take what you can if you can and keep looking. Did you ever think of saying something like this, “I have another job offer on the table and I really need an answer one way or the other today.” Maybe that would make them stand up and take notice. I realize that is like presenting your self like a commodity. However, dwelling on one possible opportunity puts you in a predicament of maybe missing the best job ever.
In this job market, most of us are a commodity, no matter how experienced or educated.
But, unless you really do have another offer, that you would be willing to give details about and willing to take, using that tactic will only sound arrogant and won’t work. Think about it. If that other offer is so great, why are you still interviewing? Are you prepared to tell this company why you would decline that other offer to work for them?
I had that situation, for real, once. A great job offer, with 2 weeks to make a decision; hard and fast, 2 weeks.. I kept interviewing. One place told me that they liked me but had no appetite for being forced to make a decision within 2 weeks. Another place gave me an offer but wanted my decision within 2 days; l let that one go because it wasn’t better in any way than the offer with the 2 week deadline. Another place interviewed me, twice, made a decision and gave me an offer within the 2 weeks, but it was a lower salary (much lower). I took the job with the lower salary because the opportunity was better for me all around. Having that 2 week deadline was great leverage for me only for that one company. It turned other companies off.
Sorry.
No sorrys needed. I guess that is right. It does come off sounding arrogant. Yes, if you truly had another offer you would probably go with that.
Hello everyone. It looks as if most of us who have posted here over the past few weeks are in the same predicament. We think we are doing all the right things before, during and after the interview(s) yet are still coming up empty handed through no fault of our own. Yet there are some out there in mainstream media who would have the public believe if there is a negative outcome from an interview, the candidate is at fault which could not be further from the truth.
Speaking of the mainstream media, most of the “self-help” articles out there for job searchers tend to be pro-management. Why is that? There is rarely anything written from the point of view of the employee or job applicant. No essays calling managers on the carpet for unprofessional behavior. Sure it goes both ways, but you wouldn’t know it by anything you read online or elsewhere.
Fred: Thought this post might be interest!
A plea for mercy to human resource professionals and anyone else interviewing people for jobs
- The work Coach Cafe Team
Thank you Work Coach Cafe Team for the “plea of mercy”. I appreciate it. Consider yourselves in the minority for posting a different point of view. As a recruiter who has worked closely with HR for over ten years, I can tell you first hand there is more to “the process” than meets the eye. I have told several managers if they aren’t ready to hire, don’t interview. Just my opinion of course.
With that said, a bit of levity every now and then here and elsewhere is more than welcome. Yeah it can get pretty heavy. So if I had to ASK a crazy out of the box interview question I would hope it would follow one of my favorite scenes from the film ‘Crimson Tide”. Not really a question here, but how an off the wall argument was settled during a crisis:
Hunter: Rivetti, what’s up?
Rivetti: I’m sorry, Sir. It’s just a difference of opinion that got out of hand.
Hunter: What about?
Rivetti: It’s really too silly to talk about, Sir. I’d really just forget about—.
Hunter: I don’t give a damn about what you’d rather forget about. Why were you two fighting?
Rivetti: I said, the Kirby Silver Surfer was the only real Silver Surfer. And that the Moebius Silver Surfer was shit. And Bennefield’s a big Moebius fan. And it got of hand. I pushed him. He pushed me. I lost my head, Sir. I’m Sorry.
Hunter: Rivetti, you’re a supervisor. You can get a commission like that. (Snaps finger)
Rivetti: I know, Sir. You’re 100 percent right. It will never happen again.
Hunter: It better not happen again. If I see this kind of nonsense again, I’m going to write you up. You understand?
Rivetti: (No answer)
Hunter: Do you understand?
Rivetti: Yes, Sir.
Hunter: You have to set an example even in the face of stupidity. Everybody who reads comic books knows that Kirby Silver Surfer is the only true Silver Surfer. Now am I right or wrong?
Rivetti: You’re right, Sir.
Hunter: Now get out of here.
Rivetti: Yes, Sir.
Count me in on Jack Kirby’s Silver Surfer being the only TRUE Surfer! ; )
Forget the rules. The waiting periods, thank you notes, keeping your phone with you at all times (even when using the bathroom) waiting for them to contact you when they “say” they will contact you, waiting for them to contact you after telling you they have 20 other candidates to interview first, going through 5 different interviewers, then a final interview, and all of the rest of the crap they tell us. If Human Resources did not have all of these hoops for us to jump through, they would be without a job. So my feeling is all of this frustration that us job seekers go through is for thier benefit, not our’s, or the best reason of all, to find the best candidate for one lousy job. Without us bombarding them for a job, they would be without a job. Plain and simple. By the way, it is not that difficult to hire a worker as Human Resources portrays it to be. I have hired people looking for work without spending three months and giving them lies and hopeless hopes. I have never let anyone hanging and wondering when I will contact them. That is just ridiculous. They should be thanking us that we are filling up thier schedule and thier voice mails so that they can keep working.
Good luck to us all and hang in thier. I hope we all get jobs with decent employers, not the ones that want to play games. All they do is waste our time.
Good points all around. I’m sure some may view them as “negative”, but most of what you said here rings true.
One last thought, it is pretty obvious when you think about it, that if it takes a company or thier H/R representative weeks to months to hire one person for one position, they are incompetent and do not know how to hire. Isn’t that thier profession, to hire? They don’t know how to even do that. And lets not even get into most of them and thier inept communication skills.
Yes, but the hiring managers are far worse. If you cannot communicate bad news and you work in corporate communications…hunny, you are in the wrong field.
Josie I feel all your pain..cause I am going through all of this also, and its really frustrating, ennoying and such a long process to find a good job. It sure doesn’t help that most people interviewing can’t recall what it was like to look for work.
Readers – We want to give a bit of moderation and thought to this thread. The hiring process is always tough. It’s tougher when you are not currently working, in need of a new job or just out of school. Companies have many different priorities and rarely to these match our needs for getting hired. While it is a hard and arduous, staying positive for yourself and all interactions with potential employers will ease the process for you and makes you most attractive to the employer.
- The Work Coach Cafe Team
Okay. Message received. I tried. Thought some levity would help. I was wrong, apparently. Good Luck to Everyone.
Wow. This is getting even more depressing, and I’m contributing to that.
Can we lighten it up, for one day? Give each other a few laughs and relieve the stress?
What are the most bizarre questions you have been asked during an in-person interview?
I’ll start:
“So, I see that you were a freshman at Tulane University. You’re cute. Why didn’t you marry a football player?”
“You know, this is a male dominated industry. What are you going to do if someone chases you around your desk?”
“Who was your biggest fan at your last job?”
“There are some people here who are not happy about someone being hired for this new position who they will have to report to. I don’t envy you if you take this job. How well do you handle conflict?”
Interviewer: President of the Company
Question: “How would you handle having to fire someone?”
Reply: “Well, since I will be reporting to the General Counsel, I would assume that I would not have that authority and the decision to fire someone would be up to the General Counsel.”
Response: “Would you be willing to take on that responsibility?”
Reply: “I’m not sure what you mean. I am here to interview for Senior Counsel. Are you considering replacing your General Counsel?”
Response: “Yes.”
Ten Minutes Later: “There has been a change in schedule. You were not scheduled to meet with the General Counsel but now you are, and your next meeting is with the General Counsel. I trust that you will not tell her what we just talked about.”
No way, that actually happened!!!! Wow, some of the most ridiculous questions are: so if you had a choice, what animal would you be? I kinda understand why they ask that..but, come on..some peoples answers may mess up the interview..like I want to be an ardvark..or a cockroach..geez..me, I answered with Eagle..(because I believe they are analytical, smart and get the job done) but who knows its up to interpetation I guess. Some other illegal questions were: are you married, how many kids do you have and if so, will it affect your job..this one interviewer ask every illegal question possible..
Thought I was trying to lighten it up?
Me too.
I like the way you tried to lighten things up SJ and Kim! It was getting a little heavy. Interview questions can be so bizarre and there’s no way to know what they are getting at. But since these are the folks I could one day be working with, I try to just go with the flow. Hard though not to want to give a funny answer when their questions are so off the wall.
I have been out of work for 7 months now. I am an experienced legal assistant. I’ve sent hundreds of resumes and registered with about 6 agencies. I have gone on about 15 interviews. I follow up again and again with e-mails and phone calls. No one calls you back. When that happens, you can bet you didn’t get the job. It seems like they are afraid to call you to give you the bad news. That is part of their job and they should at least give you the courtesy of letting you know. I spend every day looking for a job. After 7 months and not one job offer it gets to the point where you just want to give up. Any suggestions for coping with this terrible situation we are facing?
Barbara,
No matter how long you are without a job it is a bad situation. Yes, it would be nice if employers would let you know if you did not get offered the job and with some feedback as to why another candidate was chosen over you. After seven months you may want to try to get some frank, honest feedback from either employers or friends on your approach. Maybe there’s some simple changes or additions you can make to help improve your chances for landing a new job in your field.
As far as coping it’s easy to say but you need to remain positive. Recently Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren said of finding a job for the unemployed, “The one thing you control every single day when you wake up in the morning is your attitude. That’s the one thing you have full control of and so I always say on a one to ten scale, where are you?”
Hang in there, we wish you the best of luck,
- The Work Caoch Cafe Team
Hi, I applied at a company, had a job interview, did a drug test and got a job offer. That was about 3 months ago. I desperately need to work and they won’t call me. I have called them and the manager keeps telling me she will call me later that week for training but she never does. I went in and an employee told me that I probaly wouldn’t be called in for work any time soon because they didn’t even have enough hours for the current employees.
Then about a week ago, the manager finally called me but only to tell me that my application had expired and was not in their system anymore and that I had to re-apply and retake the drug test. I was more than willing and when i went to pick up my paperwork, one of the employees told me that the manager was training a new employee. I got my paperwork and went to take the drug test. A few days ago i recieved a letter saying that I was late in taking my drug test, that it had to be done withing 24 hours of me recieving the papers. I had actually taken my drug test the same day i recieved the papers.
I am tired of waiting to be called and am about to start looking for a job elsewhere. I find it unfair and unproffesional of them to keep me waiting for so long without considering that I have expenses to pay off.
I guess my question is: Is it legal for them to keep me waiting so long? And what should I do?
Julie,
Your story is heartbreaking. We are not lawyers so can’t comment on the legality of such actions. Seems like the company does not have enough work to employ you even though they must have hope to interviewed you. You should look around for another job. We know how hard it is when you thought you found a job already! Good luck.
- The Work Coach Cafe Team