Let me tell you a story: One day (or it could have been over the course of several, I'm not exactly sure), I realized just how mundane my last job had become and how underappreciated my efforts were. So I got into job hunting and transitioned to the interview phase at a few different places. One in particular stands out as being among the worst interview experiences I've ever had.
It was with a PR firm that a college friend had recommended me for. Once I got into the hiring process with interviews, e-mails, and phone calls, I quickly learned how terrible their HR team was – at least from a job seeker's point of view. I went through all the right motions for following up on any steps we made in the process and was reassured by my friend that, while their HR department might totally suck, the rest of the company was great and worth the trouble.
But here's my beef: After some e-mails and phone calls with the same HR rep I'd been dealing with since day one, she sent me the following e-mail:
Hey Brianna,
I was out of the office for much of last week on vacation, and will be training for much of the day on Monday and Tuesday. I will have info as to next steps Wednesday afternoon. Let's schedule time to chat for 5. Let me know if that works for you.
I replied that 5 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon was perfect and that I'd make sure I was available to chat. That Wednesday evening rolled in and right back out without any phone call. After calling her at 6 p.m. to reach only her voicemail, I gave my friend a call to vent about the lack of communication. Much to my dismay he informed me that it was her birthday and she left early to celebrate, "but don't take it personally because that's just how she is." You can imagine how thrilled I was to be blown off like that.
The point of this story? Well, there are a few:
- If I hadn't had a friend on the inside who convinced me the company was 100% better than the HR team that represented them, I would have walked away from the opportunity much earlier than I did. Trust your gut, and never put too much weight on just one opportunity (like I did).
- Even if the HR staff doesn't hold up their end of the bargain, you should always keep yours. While they should be trying to make a good impression on you, it's more important for you to impress them. If they blow you off without a valid excuse – like to go out for birthday drinks – feel free to ditch them in return (assuming you really don't want the job anymore).
- For all those HR folks out there: If you really want to provide a good public image for your company, remember that job candidates matter. Making a bad experience for them because of your own neglect could harm your image – so treat them well.
What was your worst HR job searching experience? Tell us about it below.
My Hiring Nightmare:
In the spring, I was interviewed for a management position for which there were two openings. I was passed on for a second interview. I felt that both interviews went extremely well and all of their feedback to me was consistent with this thinking.
As soon as I got home, I sent a thank-you note to the people I met with, and two weeks later, I finally got a call saying they'd decided to go internally. I took a moment to say how great that was, and how much goodwill it sent to their internal employees. They said they really wanted to keep me on the line. They asked if I would interview for an opening they had in their training department.
Because my experience straddles training and operations, I decided to at least go to the interview. It was a very different interview. As much as I felt it went very well, I didn't want that job. Our philosophies on training and adult learning were very different and I was also made aware that the training position would never allow for any development of training materials, which is one of my strongest abilities and passions. Their training materials were written strictly by an off-site but in-house group who had never done the jobs they were writing for. I saw huge flaws in that plan. I never had to opt out of this training job because even following my thank you note, I never heard another thing about that job.
A month later, I got an "informal call" from this employer inquiring if I'd be willing to work in the manager capacity (the first job I'd considered with them) but in a less than desireable shift of 2pm to 11pm, they'd just lost a manager on those hours. Fortunately, for me it was an IDEAL schedule as it meant not just earning an additional 10% for shift differential but it really worked for my home life. I readily agreed and expected to hear back in a more "formal" capacity. That was in April.
In October, they called to let me know the management position was being posted externally again and would I apply? Sure, and I did. I went on yet another interview. This interview was with the original set of folks who conducted the first and second interview for the managment position. They only did a shortened version of the interview stating it was more a formality since they'd already met with me twice and agreed I'd be a perfect fit and they "still had all their notes and that good feeling" about me and all the strengths I bring to the position. Despite my protests, they felt they owed me an explanation for why it had been so long since I'd heard from them. Summer was their slow season and they ended up not needing to fill any positions until now. There were 3, maybe even 4 positions avaliable now, extreme growth for a new product they'd brought on board. I said "Great, I look forward to hearing from you, I'd love this job!
Dead on their timeframe two weeks later, they e-mailed me a standard form letter straight from their "brass-ring" employment website saying "While we were impressed with your skills and experience, we've decided to go with another candidate."
My sister, an HR professional with 10 years of hiring experience, said she thought it could be an error and that her team had accidentally responded to the wrong candidates through their similar employment system.
To this, I kindly e-mailed the HR guy back saying "Thank you for your time and consideration. As you have seen me 3 times in the past 6 months, could you offer some specific feedback on the way I've presented myself. Am I presenting weaknesses and not addressing them, or am I spitting across the table without realizing it? I'm asking for help here, I'm not disputing or rationalizing your hiring decision." and I signed off respectfully.
The HR guy wrote back the safest possible answer "We just had a really talented candidate pool."
I feel very frustrated with their push/pull, lack of communication, and when they do communicate, they're misleading as could be. I never took on an attitude of entitlement or said to myself "I've so got this!". As much as they made me feel it would be ok to think that way, I was much too realistic and humble to agree until I had an offer in my hands. I refused to read anything into how positive I felt and they seemed.
Was I wrong to feel so misled? I understand at no point was I guaranteed a job but I have never been "winked at" so many times to be turned down so many times. Why am I the one feeling foolish?
Admittedly, after the experience I've had with them, I don't really want to work for an organization that operates that way, but I'm still having trouble understanding it all.
A big big big company in my city had been courting me for about five weeks for a particular position. They were in weekly contact with me, phone interview, writing samples, and finally, the face-to-face interview was scheduled.
The day before the interview, I emailed my contact to confirm the details. She wrote me back several hours later with what basically said, "Hey, sorry, kid, the economy sucks & that position has been cut. Good luck, though!"
They didn’t even cancel the interview! If I hadn't emailed to confirm, I was just going to show up like a jerk in my excitedly planned outfit & freshly printed resume. (I really wanted this job!)
Devastating.
JHatcher - Wow, that experience definitely trumps my own! It sounds like a case of the company having no idea what they needed or what they were looking for. It was smart of you to ask the hiring manager for feedback on your interviews, even though he didn't provide anything helpful. You were on the right track with that tactic.
I really wish hiring teams and HR would respect candidates more! It's more common than not for candidates to feel misled...either they're doing something wrong or HR is (and I'm inclined to think the latter). ;)
@gemellen - It amazes me how companies can make you jump through so many hoops and then dismiss the opportunity on a whim.
I have a feeling the state of the economy will have a similar impact on lots of job openings today - but it'd sure be nice if they could figure out if they need/can afford a new hire before they start looking.
Sorry to hear about that HR nightmare, JHatch. I got a similar response when I asked for some feedback after getting rejected. Something along the lines of 'we can't tell you, except there are other candidates with qualifications more suited to the job'. Well, clearly if I'm not going to the next round. But I here some places may actually give you usable feedback.
I don't think it was wrong of you to get your hopes up, but I guess you can't stop looking just because you think you might get the job. I started my job search like that but realized it would have taken forever if I just focused on one job at a time.
And you'll be better off somewhere else. Who knows what HR is like once you are working there.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sharon
Thanks for the comment (and compliment), Sharon!
I had a run in with a bad HR place at a temp agency. Not only did they me glad I got away from this person (who's been that way before) but in addition, someone who I recommended to them knows exactly what went on.
Bottom line: in any economy, if the HR is not good, then that's what people are going to say is the face of your company. When you're in a much recruited field even in this day and time, word gets around.