Oh boy! I just can't believe I found this article. As this is exactly what happened to me. I went on the interview, manager said, ok, I am going to take a chance on you--there is something about you that I like---need to get you to sign forms for the company, but am holding a large seminar so won't be able to get with you until that is over. Ok, so I was pro active, even went to the seminar, --this position was in sales, brought in a sale, to be there first thing on a Monday morning, first day on the job, got call from some Asst., not Manager, and was told she reconsidered and did not want to hire me!!! No reasons, -- Unreal- left 2 messages and text messaged and e mail. I said atleast you could be proffessional enough to tlk to me and tell me yourself what changed your mind!! Nope, never knew, still don't know. Really bursts your bubble and ruins your confidence. Now I question myself, could it be what I wore, how I look, age, a conversation I had? Hmmm But, today I think-- too bad-- I wouldn't have wanted to work there anyway -- at least it happened now--not when you have a bill of business to bring in and decide what did I do?

I had an interview set up with (name of company deleted) and on the same day of the interview they called my house and my wife answered the call. They stated to her that they found better candidates for the job and were cancelling my interview. Also, they keep saying that their are 6 people for each job that you apply for, try 100 or more. My last interviews, that has been the ratio.

Great to hear I'm not the only one. I started questioning my ability to interview (have been coached) but finally determined people don't like to deliver bad news which is why most of us are not getting responses.

In my case, I'm qualified for every position I have applied for and most of the time overqualified. Can't believe a hiring manager wouldn't look at me as bench strenght but let's face it, they don't like the competition. I wasn't downsized, I just transferred to another city with my spouse. Had 7 interviews with one company and then suddently got an email from an HR assistant telling me I'm not being selected, no reason, nor the courtesy of a phone call. I don't do that to people. This isn't an interviewing issue, this is a customer service issue.

I sent a holiday note to everyone I have been in contact with over the past several months and actually got thank you's from people who wouldn't otherwise respond.

Don't do what the first guy did, just keep plugging along or use the time as an opportunity to do something you have always wanted to do. You're not getting paid now are you? Good luck to everyone out there.

I was on a job interview the other day when the Boss/AKA employer sent the secretary down to interview me, which was the standard proceedure for that company for an initial preliminary interview. Then the actual guy who does the hiring and interviewing never showed up. I guess he was too busy. I sat there like an idiot for about 15 or 20 minutes for him to make his big debut, then the secretary cane doen and told men If hhe's interested he'll call. This was for a job paying $9 an hour when the going rqte in my field is $12 an hour to start.

No, I am not getting paid now. But I need to work. My husband has gotten laid off a few times and previously was with a company for 27 years. So we are playing catch up. Had a substantial amount in a 40lK had to use it to live on for the last few years. He has been working, but it seems like when you get behind, it takes alot to catch up. Now we have minimal money, I feel fat and ugly and old from the rejection of this incident on this job.--It helps to hear that this is what is it now to get a job. I am not bragging, but I guess I was spoiled,as before, if I ever wanted a job, I would just walk in and say so, and I would get the position/ and get employed! So, this is mind boggling to me. I guess it is the way things are with everyone having the opportunity to get the best of the best. I can't believe what they have for Managers though! I would think that they would also do their job to their absolute best ability with hiring and following up and doing their job!! Using the Asst. to call, confirm, followups. -- Probably act even more like a Manager than ever since the competition is so great for these positions.-- Or maybe when they see someone come in the door that they like, but seem to be questionable on whether they could take their jobs, they reconsider hiring them.-- I would.

i went to a mass hire at a career center , first interviewer said , hey i like you , your face lights up when you smile and you have alot of experience and knowledge with many of the items we sell, he gave me hope. he said would you like to come back tomorrow, or wait you have 4 people in front of you. i said i would wait , the manager however took me next, and we had a great session, and he said he would call me back in tomorrow for another interview, never did , and i called back and left a message in the morning and later in the day still no call or email, i believe he was overwhelmed with my experience and feared for his own job, even though i am a teacher and helper not a stealer, i am 51 and first time in my life that i am out of work and cant find any. i have faith god will deliver the best for me , thanks je3

Wow! Looks as if I opened up a floodgate or two! Thanks very much for sharing your stories!

@ Rose -- Sounds like the manager chickened out. For crying out loud, why do some companies have managers who don't have the guts to be honest with someone after getting their hopes up?

@ Dan -- Looks like someone can use an etiquette lesson.

@ Diane -- I agree that what we're dealing with here is bad customer service on the part of the employer.

@ Linda -- Any company in which a secretary does the interviewing for the hiring manager is not a place you want to work.

@ John -- Interviewing and the job search have usually been equated with dating. What you experienced happens in dating all the time. But there's no excuse for it to happen in the working world. Keep the faith!

Being unemployed, volunteering with relevant organizations can be wicked useful. The last interview I had was for a volunteer position that could/would transition into a paid position. It was for new media/social media/online marketing type of thing, mostly data entry to help out with a very small non-profit.

Anyway, I had a phone interview that was, apparently, without the interviewer having my resume on hand. The conversation was going well when we were talking about my work history. I asked if she had a copy of my resume on-hand (I could tell she didn't) at which point she asked if I could forward her a copy and add bullets to which specific experience was relevant (basically in which jobs I had used Excel for data entry). The phone call ended abruptly afterwards. I updated my resume with said info and sent it right away. Never heard from again. I sent a follow-up email to make sure she received the resume, and quick thank-you note. A week later, I sent a second quick follow up/reminder and nothing.

Overqualified for data entry with total qualifications and/or real world experience for a *volunteer* position!!!

It's amazing how timely your post is! I was laid off the staff (a job I loved) at a major Kentucky university about 7 months ago (budget cuts), and have been applying for positions with my previous employer as quickly as the HR dept. can post them online. I left on good terms and was encouraged to watch this job board. After several "nibbles," I have yet to receive so much as a rejection letter, acknowledgment, nothing to indicate why I never rated any proper explanation, especially since I was well qualified with all the prerequisites for each position I applied for. Many have suggested that it's all about "who you know" at this state university, and I thought I was the only one out there who found this lack of follow through to be a major oversight.

Once companies express an interest in you, they owe you the common courtesy of a follow up call to let you know what has transpired! Thank you, Pongo, for allowing so many of us to vent our frustration over thoughtless treatment.

Elizabeth

MANY OF YOU HAVE A DIFFICULTY WITH YOUR SPELLING AND SPEECH SKILLS, WHICH MAY HAVE REARED THEIR HEAD WHEN YOU HAD YOUR INTERVIEW MAY BE THE REASON FOR NOT BEING CONSIDERED. IT'S ASTOUNDING AND ASHAME THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE U.S.A THAT ARE SEMI-ILLITERATE-THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN-THEIR FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS QUALITY OF EARLY EDUCATION IS USUALLY THE REASON. WE MUST DO BETTER FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION-JUST LOOK AT RECENT STATISTICS: MANY COLLEGE ENTRY STUDENTS CANNOT EVEN PASS THE REMEDIAL BASICS-SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG-LETS GET TOGETHER AND FIX IT!!!!!!!

What is wrong with these people they make us jump through hoops to get an interview and then it last ten minutes ending with yes I will call you but low and behold they never do. I wonder if the people that are in the hiring position really know what it fills like to be put through their process. Just last week I went to an interview and was told that I would be set up with a trainer to see if the position was something that I wanted to do. Well it is a good thing that I did not hold my breath. By the way I just came off career builder and that same job is still there. I hope they hire someone just like them.

@ Elizabeth -- Thanks for the kinds words. Hang in there and keep plugging away!

@ Michael -- As someone who does a little teaching, I agree that there needs to be a quantum leap in writing skills (Personal suggestion: Don't write in all caps! Thanks! ;-)

@ Dennis -- Yes, I think everyone should have a taste of what it's like on the other side.

@ L. -- Don't know why the interviewer wouuld not have a copy of your resume for a phone interview. Doesn't sound like a company you would want to even volunteer for.

You know that has happened to me a few times. Not sure why. It is very frustrating. The best way to get revenge is to be hired by the competition and buy them out.

How wonderful to read I'm not alone. I am still currently trying to get the answer for a Marketing Administrator position I applied for. I had my two interviews, which went extremely well, with the second actually being with the marketing department. I was told I would be perfect in the position but they still had 4 interviews left. That was three weeks ago. Position still open. i did, however, stop by and spoke again with the interviewer and they really had not made a decision yet. So wrong for potential employers to let people hang with so many people needing to work. I'm glad to really know it's not just me.

Good luck to all.

This is so timely. In the several months I have been job searching I have run into this time and again. It had been over 20 yrs. since I had an interview so I also received coaching and was told by the coach I interviewed well. The last ten interviews I had only one bothered to respond and they said they were looking for some one with more experience, I have 20 plus years experience in the job I was appling for! I just don't get it I remember the days when you went in asked if they were hiring and filled out an application, and recieved a call back in about two days.

@ Gail -- That's a good solution as long as you're not bent on revenge.

@ Colleen -- Doesn't sound as if they were committing to you by saying you were "perfect" for the job. At least they said they had to talk with more people. But since they said that, courtesy says they should contact you one way or the other.

@ Kevin -- It's a rough job market, which I'm sure you're well aware of, so it may be harder to land you're desired position. Still, in my book, if they interview you, they should call you, win or lose.

20 years ago I applied for a position I was over-qualified for at a company which, unknown to me, considers credit score among their hiring criteria.

They interviewed, put the thru the drug test, led me on, gave me hope, then nothing.

I had to drag it out of them that it was credit score. Well, why didn't you simply say so. "If you credit score is not at least 700, we cannot consider you for employment." Why have me pee in the jar, etc? Such a foollish process!

A while back, I went through three interviews and took several pre-employment tests and was told to expect a call in a few days. Days turned to weeks, which turned to months. I tried calling, only to be transferred and placed on hold until I was ultimately disconnected. I gave up and moved on. Three months later I got a call from a Manager wanting me to come in for yet another interview. I decided to extend him the same respect they had given to me....I didn't bother calling him back to tell him I accepted another job. I guess they finally figured out I was no longer interested after calling me several more times.

@ Darrell -- I agree with you to a point. First, I find drug testing highly intrusive. I had to go through it once and came away with "Well, THAT was meaningless!" It's not like I was going to be driving a truck or handling heavy equipment.

In my humble opinion, credit scores may be a qualification if you're going to be working on the finance end. Someone may see a low credit score as a sign that you might be prone to steal from the company. But on the other hand, that's a case of being guilty before you're proven innocent.

@ Tony -- Hmmm, wonder why they didn't get your hint the *first* time?

This whole job hunting scenario these days reminds me of the 80s when the so called Reganomics came into effect. I was a food server at that time. I remember the fall of General Dynamics and other companies and how we were treated then. The managers of resteraunts were fixed upon hiring the people with degrees over experience in the field. However, the tables turn in the late 90s and the degree laden people left them high and dry, leaving the food service business clammering in desperation for employees to do the job. It was great. The more experienced food industry workers could literaly walk in and name their price. I am now working on a degree due to an injury that has made it difficult to be a food server. I find it hard for companies to take me seriously in this transition. I am a responsible, hard worker but I find the whole resume and job hunt to be quite bogus in alot of ways. And I find that again, the employers are quite upity. Well, I warn that the tables will turn as they always do. So, keep your chin up people, as they clammer to find the newest faces in the crowd, the younger ones do not have the life experience or the discipline that it takes to maintain. And us old folks that have been snubbed will be valuable. Just remember that "every dog has their day."

I had the most humiliating experience with a large hotel chain. I interviewed with a front office manager who jumped up during the middle of my interview to hug a guest. She then returned to me only to tell me that she would get back to me. I followed up with her. During my follow-up call she told me that she wanted me to interview with the general manager. I interviewed with him the following week. He seemed a little more interested in interviewing with me than she did. The general manager concluded the interview with: "I allow my department managers to make the decisions." I continued to show my interest in the position by sending an email to the general manager thanking him for his time.

I met with several hotel staff during the process of interviewing with the two managers; being very careful to demonstrate a manner of professionalism that would represent the company in the best light. I possessed the skills and experience that the company was looking for.

I interviewed with the company while employed as a department manager for the nation's largest home improvement retailer. In addition to my experience as a manager, I worked for several hotels as a night auditor - that was the position I interviewed for. Both managers asked about my experience as a manager and focused very little on my experience as a night auditor.

The front office manager told me that she wanted to extend an offer, but she was waiting to see if hiring a new associate was in the budget. I waited for a week to her from her. No phone call or email. I made several follow-up calls to show my continued interest in the position for four weeks. I left messages and spoke with her during that period. She continued to blow me off. I got the picture after the last call that there was no intention of hiring me. I felt like a salesman trying to sale merchandise that the customer had no interest in purchasing.

Where did you come from! My goodness, this is a blog.....It sounds to me that most people like myself have knocked themselves out trying to be professional, always trying to say the right thing, proof reading and tweaking the resume so that everything is perfect. People go to a blog to let off some steam and don't feel that they should be judged on how they spell or speak. They just want to talk to others about their experience. Then, low and behold, there is someone like you with more negativity about how people don't speak or write properly! Maybe you should be on the blog with the unprofessional, inconsiderate hiring managers out there, shounds like you would fit in better there!

It would be wise to check your own comments for serious grammatical errors before critiquing those of other posters, as it is clear you are a product of the same educational system that you criticize in your comment.