I recently got a great e-mail from a bright, talented, well-qualified job seeker who shared some of his oh-so-honest thoughts and feelings based on four long months of looking for a job. And let me tell you…he’s NOT a happy camper. He’s had it beyond up-to-here with employers, interviewers and the entire hiring / job interview process!
He feels frustrated, angry and fed up with the way he sees job candidates – including himself – being treated during the hiring process by employers or employer representatives. And I know he’s not the only one out there feeling this anger!
Why are job seekers so angry at interviewers & interviews?
I have a feeling each and every one of you has at least one answer to that question – and no doubt the list of answers would go on and on page after page after page! It’s unbelievably hard to have almost no control over something so critically important to our lives – something that can affect our entire future – as well as such basic stuff as paying rent and eating.
Matthew, the reader who wrote me, has been lucky since he’s actually getting interviews. (I think category one for our Anger List would have to be all the folks who never even get in the door to show how talented they are!) But Matthew does get interviews – and it’s not that he screws up or blows his interviews…instead, it’s the interviewers who are driving him nuts.
Here to start off our Anger List are some of his “I wish they would just listen to me and change their wicked ways” points for employers (with a bit of editing from me). I think you’ll get a kick out of his sense of humor and perspective – but remember, when he wrote this…well…grrrrr!
1. Our Time is Just as Valuable as Yours
“I finally landed a decent interview with a state employer who seemed eager to interview me. I arrived at the site 10 minutes early, and was ushered back into the “waiting room” to be left in peace to compose myself. I had a lot of composure time. Forty five minutes, to be exact.
I waited. And waited. Employers: don’t think that sending a harried staff member into what I now was calling the “Holding Pen” to note that “we need X here to interview you, and she is dealing with a crisis right now” is good enough. At least offer me a damn cup of coffee! Or better yet, use this as an opportunity to show me an interesting facet of the work. I don’t mind. If crisis intervention is part of the job, seeing some action along those lines would be more stimulating than figuring out how much of the peeling paint in the “Holding Pen” I would have to eat before I keeled over from lead poisoning and got some attention.
LESSON: We show up on time ready to roll. Is it too much to ask that you do the same?”
2. Please Don’t Bait and Switch
“Despite my urge to eat paint chips and claw out the eyes of the next person who approached me with any words other than “We’re ready now”, I made it through the interview. Two very similar jobs were posted, one with a lower salary that did not require a Master’s degree (which I have), and one which did. The job description I was handed was for the Master’s level position. I reiterated this during the interview, and yes, I was told I was interviewing for the latter position. We all smiled and went our separate ways.
Two days later I was offered a job – at the bottom of the pay scale for the non-Master’s position. I questioned the HR person, and she insisted that there was just ONE position, and the salary ranged over a $14,000 span. Hey nice lady…I have both job postings in front of me! $8,000.00 less than my last position, for doing much the same duties, and relocating 700 miles. FYI: I attempted to negotiate, but the offer was firm, and I ended up declining the offer.
LESSON: Employers, please don’t assume that potential workers will “take anything” to be employed. We can read, and know full well when you are going beyond “thrifty” and “reasonable”, and are marching stubbornly into “cheap” and “insulting”. STICK TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND ADVERTISED SALARY RANGE. AND PLEASE DON’T TRY TO BAIT AND SWITCH.
BONUS LESSON: I drove three hours to give a drug urine sample. If I have to pee in a cup for you, then I’d like to have a bit more respect and honesty.”
3. Do Keep a Scheduled Promise to Call
“We job seekers get very, VERY excited when we hear from you. But that excitement can quickly go sour if there is any unexplained broken “promise”. For example…
I scored a phone interview, and boy, was I excited. I was by the phone, ready to knock ‘em dead long distance. Cue crickets, chirping loudly in the silence that was not broken by the phone ringing. I waited two hours past the appointed time, and even sent a tactful email inquiring if I had “misunderstood” the date or time. (Hell no, I had it burned into my brain). No reply.
The next morning there was an email from the potential employer apologizing and wanting another interview that day. I promptly replied, thanked her, and gave her a four hour window of time when I was available during the day. Again, no reply…but I waited by the phone for, well… five hours. Another round of emails, and this time she was not so nice: “I will be out of the office for three days, and will contact you next week.” I ended the torture via e-mail by declining to be interviewed by them after all. If this is how they handle their business, then it’s not the place for me.
LESSON: Schedules were created for a reason, and the employer made the appointment. As job seekers, we know you HR folk are busy people. But here’s the scoop: SO ARE WE. You would be pissed as hell if you had arranged your day around a vital phone call that never came. Please show us you respect us as you expect us to respect you.”
4. Don’t Air Your Dirty Laundry
“A certain well known human services agency was fairly persistent in wanting me to interview with them. I was called by one person, and told to call another person to set up an interview. I did so, and immediately was asked why I was calling her. I explained why, and gave the name of the referrer.
Well, I don’t care if you got yourselves a little feud going on, but don’t drag me into it, sister girl. She was fairly indignant that this other person had handled this the way he had, as she did not seem to know that she was the ultimate contact person for job seekers. Did I need to hear all this?
LESSON: The title of this section says it all.”
5. Have Some Idea of Who We Are and What We Applied For!
“Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more demeaning or frustrating than speaking with a representative of your organization who has no idea who we are. You contacted ME!! I fully expect that it might take a minute, but for god sakes, DON’T LET ON YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW WHO WE ARE OR ANYTHING ABOUT OUR QUALIFICATIONS.
Upon returning a call from a potential employer, it was obvious she had no clue as to who I was. She said my name “sounded familiar”- oh…there I was…in her “pile”. (Thanks but no thanks.) She then proceeded to do an impromptu interview over the phone. OK. I started getting excited. We were back in my comfort zone, so I fired off bright answers to her questions. The questions began to stray from the job description I had and then asked for my “RN license number”.
Excuse me? I told her that might be a bit difficult, since I’m not a registered nurse; I’m a social worker. Her response? “Social worker? Oh, I didn’t know we were hiring for those. We may have a few positions, oh no, they’re filled. I guess we have nothing for you at the moment?”
Lady, you answered your own question. I applied for the SOCIAL WORK JOB YOUR COMPANY ADVERTISED. If you are only hiring RNs right now, I’ll just go spend another four-to-six years and get THAT degree.
LESSON: It’s OK to ask our names, and what position we applied for. It’s even better if you take a moment, put us on hold, and find us in your “pile”. Just scan the resume and job application if you need a refresher. But DON’T TRY AND STUMBLE YOUR WAY THROUGH. It only makes you and your organization look bad.”
I hadn’t intended to publish this much of Matthew’s e-mail, but it’s just so good. I think his words are something every employer should read. And I know it’s something a lot of you can relate to!
FINAL NOTE: On the other hand, it’s a buyer’s market and basically a job seeker has to brace himself or herself for unexpected emergencies – or even sheer incompetence – on the employer end. I’ve been on the other side as a phone screener, resume screener and interviewer, and although I really did try my best to consider the candidate’s needs, I’m sure there were times when candidates were not feeling the love.
I know the system is imperfect, but when I’m on the job seeker side, my attitude is I’m here for me and I’m not going to let their stuff keep me from getting what I need and want.
Then again, if it’s Bozo City over there, forewarned is forearmed! 
What are your thoughts? Do you have any job interview stories to add to the list? We’d love to hear them!
Some Work Coach Cafe interview posts:
Dealing with Interview Stress
I Got the Post-Interview Temporary OCD Blues
12 Ways to Stay Sane After a Job Interview
What the Heck Goes On Behind the Scenes After a Job Interview?
Ideas for Handling Job Interview Questions and Answers
What’s Your Greatest Strength?
What’s Your Greatest Weakness?
Where Do You See Yourself Five Years from Now?
Handling Some Tough Interview Questions
Explaining Why You Left the Last Job So Soon
How Do I Interview After Being Fired?
How Do I Explain Dropping Out of Law School?
Job Interview Tips
15 Things I Look for When I Interview People
18 Practical Tips to Help You Ace That Job Interview
The Single Most Important Thing in Any Job Interview
Please Help Me Ace My Phone Interview!
Help! I Get Nervous When I Interview for a Job
i must first start out by saying fabulous article, the job market right is tough, but you cant give up hope! a miracle happened today, i had applied for a job i thought i wouldnt get and i did called in for an interview, and funny enough it was an application mixup! (they called the wrong person) but they were still nice enough to give me an interview and you know what? I GOT THE JOB!!! finally after being unemployed for a year! the manager was wonderful, and believe me i have met quite a few @$$hole recriuters over this past year. what im trying to say is yes, there is a lot of rude employers out there, but there is still good recruiters, and to Paul any company that is that inconsiderate of you is not one you want to work for, you deserve better. this website has really helped me not to give up hope and i hope it will continue to inspire people as it has inspired me
This blog is coming to me at just the right time……feeling pretty low after a 2nd interview that I strongly suspect is not going to result in an offer. I really like the supportive tone of the blog. It’s hard being your own cheerleader over and over.
My situation is that I’m in a dead-end job with a lot of other undesirable aspects which I won’t go into but suffice it to say I’ve been trying to find another job for 15 months.
During that time I’ve applied for about 15 positions and had one phone interview, two separate individual interviews, and this most recent experience of getting a 2nd interview for the job I’ve wanted the most out of all the ones for which I’ve applied. This was THE job, though I know I shouldn’t put that kind of pressure on one opportunity. But you know what I mean.
To get this job, I gave up 3 days of work, $150 for new interview clothes and makeup, probably 20 hours in addition to the days off work preparing, and put my family through the stress of it all.
Also, this particular employer has the most tedious, demanding application process, which I didn’t include in the above prep. It includes transcripts and 3 current letters of reference, just to apply.
Then, when you interview the first time, you have a “task”. In this case it was a 10 minute marketing presentation.
Here’s the kicker: 7 years ago, I got to the same point with this organization – did the “task” which was extremely time-consuming, knocked it out of the park, was extremely qualified and a good match for the position, 2 interviews….then I didn’t get the job. Here I am 7 years later, same scenario. AND, last time they used my ideas that I presented in the “task”!!!
I am sure my marketing ideas will be used this time, as well. I was very thorough in my presentation and had great ideas.
I guess I’m just venting a bit…..
I will know in a few days whether I’m offered the job, but I could tell at the 2nd interview that the interviewer was distant, removed, not giving credence to my background and experience, fairly dismissive.
Sigh.
It is hard not to give up searching, but the negative realities and stress of my current job force me to confront the need to keep applying.
Thanks for listening.
I would love to know everyone’s opinion on these “tasks” which cull great ideas from candidates you aren’t going to hire.
The organization in question is still the #1 place in my area for which I’d like to work. But I dread applying for more jobs there because of the above.
This is an excellent website! The information provided here I have not found elsewhere and has been really insightful as to the job interviewing process. Thank you so much!
Thanks, Al! Best of luck!!
This is hilarious but true. There are lots of rude, insensitive, arrogant interviewer scattered around the world. I had one yesterday, this [edited] bastard who thought he was god by asking me legal term that he even didn’t know..grrr.
Oh yes. Once I had a recruiter contact me directly after finding my resume on one of the big job boards to talk with me about a position they were openly recruiting for. I hadn’t heard of the company or position, but scheduled a time to talk with her on the phone. After exchanging pleasantries, she asked me what had made me apply for the position. I answered “well, I haven’t actually applied. You found my resume and contacted me.” Needless to say, it went downhill from there. Tip to recruiters: make notes in the candidate’s file if you found them, when and where! This way, you have the appropriate script to pull from, if you use one.
Thanks for sharing your perspective on what annoys you.
That being said, I think this could have gone differently (if you had wanted to). Regardless of how you find out about a position, employers want to see genuine interest in the company and the job — as they don’t want to extend offers which may not be accepted. Recommend that if placed in a similar situation in the future, you:
1. Research the company and the job
2. Prepare an answer to the questions, “why this job and in this company?”
Good luck and all the best,
Chandlee
That’s not the point, it was the interviewer who screwed up. I am fed up with the recruiting processes of certain companies as well. I know job seekers do make a lot of mistakes, but recruiters do too. I recently was interviewing for a job that came with no benefits, but the corresponding Internet ad said it did. To me, there is no difference between employers lying on a job ad me lying on a job application. Needless to say, I ignored her phone calls offering me the job.
I meant to say there is no difference between
employers lying on a job ad and me lying on a job
application.
Nick,
From my perspective, what is lost when anyone lies on an application or an ad the same thing is lost — integrity. Keeping your integrity is something that no employers can take away from you.
Best,
Chandlee
The most frustrating habits that I occasionally come across in the interviews that I have had are:
1. Employers with the “red pen” syndrome. They approach you with the intent of trying to see if you will mess up. I find this to be common in younger interviewers who probably like the feeling of authority. I think it is important for employers to want you to do well. The two worst cases that I encountered with this was that I ran into an interviewer who was kind of ghetto…she was smacking her lips and trying speak over the other interviewer (who also seemed annoyed). The other scenario was when I answered a question and the interviewer says to the other interviewer “why do all the candidates always mention……” then tried to correct herself by saying “….not that we are interviewing anyone else for this position or anything. other positions, that’s what I was talking about, other positions.”
2. Employers that make you lead the interview. I had an interview and the FIRST question was “so do you have questions for me?” without an introduction to who I was talking to. The interviewer seemed like a great person tho but seemed a little confused about the interview process. It felt like HR ushered me into an interview and he was probably like “oh, why is this person here?”.
Court,
Two thoughts here:
1. On employers with the red pen system and who don’t seem to get along with one another: This actually gives you potential information about the employer — would it be a healthy work environment if hired? If you get the offer, I’d talk to others who work there before accepting.
2. On leading the interview — I think it’s actually a great opportunity for both the interviewee and the interviewer. Starting the interview with “What questions do you have for us?” skips past the “can you do this job?” I’d take it as a compliment instead and use the opportunity to ask questions that show you’ve researched the employer — and clarify your understanding of the job. If they tell you what they are looking for, it gives you the opportunity to show how you can fit their needs throughout the rest of the interview.
Good luck and all the best,
Chandlee
Here is another example of how interviewer managers or Presidents etc. act like real jerks. I applied for a job in the newspaper looking for a post secondary school graduate with 2 years or more education to be a hearing aid apprentice. OK, so I applied in the newspaper and got an email regarding an interview. I drove for about 1 hour to the interview. This is a family based business. The first thing that happened was I was taken to an office and talked to a middle manager who asked me about my background. I told her that I have a Business Management diploma 3 years course and a Computer Electronic Repair Certificate and 1st Year Apprentice Electrician course and have experience fixing various electronics and checking voltages and various other things such as interference. The next thing that happened I was taken to the Presidents office where he and his brother the vice president of this company started talking. The vice president asked me, “Do you have any letters of recommendation?” Before I can say anything he got up and left his chair and then his brother the President of the company started talking, I brought my diploma as I usually carry stuff on me to prove that I am not a liar or making it up and secondly I had employers who looked at me in the past as if, “You don’t look like…” I started talking to the President and he said to me “Do you have 70 or more college credits?” I answered yes I took a diploma course in Business Management not a certificate course. Even my resume shows diploma not certificate. I showed hm my diploma from a college called “Humber College.” He then started to all of a sudden changed countenance and attitude and started talking like a goof. He then started to say, “I never heard of this college it must exist.” Then all of a sudden another person walks in and said, “It’s a fake, it’s a fake, look at him.” (First of all those people who don’t know Humber college it is a well known college for Business and Funeral Services in Canada.) Th employer then said “Do you have more then 70 college credits?” I said I sure do as this is a diploma. After a short conversation on electronics the President of this company said,”You have a gift for electronics but you probably are not a good seller and you have a Go given gift.” I left knowing that I will not get the job, hmm then what do they teach at Business about selling not about acting like a goof like these people.
Andrew,
Sorry you had this experience. Here’s what I recommend.
1. Find out what Industry Based certifications are needed for Hearing Aid Apprentices need. In the U.S., you can find this information from a government site, MyNextMove.org that offers the ability to get information on jobs by occupation (I would imagine that Canada has a similar site.)
2. Contact your institution and let them know what happened…See if they would be willing to follow up directly with the employer. If yes, perhaps you could get a letter to send them — or have them contact the company directly.
Even if they aren’t considering you for the job and — if you don’t want to work for them anymore — it’s may feel good to stand up for yourself. Your school may have some tips on other companies they have relationships with as well — so I’d let them know what happened even if you decide not to follow up with this particular employer.
Overall, avoid assigning negative names or adjectives to anyone. Avoid saying “jerk” and instead say this is what happened as if you could see it through a camera.
Good luck and all the very best,
Chandlee