Community Chat

[lovesrecess]

Here are some of the reasons you may not have heard a job offer from that interview you thought you nailed: DH and I each hired hundreds of employees over the course of our careers....these are some of the things we heard:

1.”I want this job because my desk would not be in plain view of the front door,  so my ex can’t shoot me since he is stalking me.”

2.”I want this job as long as you understand I don’t work the first two Mondays of each month; that’s when I go fishing with my dad.”

3.”I decided to be an elementary school teacher because high school was too hard for me..I barely graduated.”

4.”My dad told me not to come home without a job or I have to move out...this place looks easy....”

5.”My girlfriend worked here until last week and she said you are fun to date...is your wife okay with that? I already asked my husband and is fine with it.”

6.”If my tats are a problem, I can try to cover them up with makeup but it doesn’t help much.” ( he had a huge dragon tattoo that covered his entire neck and one side of his face). Also profane words on his knuckles. He was applying to be a jr high school PE teacher.

7. “I know the embezzlement charge was bogus, so please don’t worry about  that. I feel I can be a great accountant for your organization.

8. “Thank you for your time, I hope you will respect my time by getting back to me before Friday. I won’t be available to take calls next week because I will be doing community service.”

I promise these were actually heard when we were hiring people. None of these applicants made the cut...😳 there is hope for almost anyone out there wanting a job!

[jlkz]

As a former career counselor in one of my careers, I read your post from a different viewpoint.  Then, realized yours and enjoyed it !

Seriously, there are many reasons folks do not get the job they think they are perfect for...some obvious, others imperceptible.  

Successful candidate was a relative or a huge debt was owed to someone.

The job was “wired” but they had to go through the required hoops first......this could lead to a callback once the person was promoted or left !

You were mistaken about the “perfect fit”

You unknowingly said or did something offputting as they gave you a tour through the place

Knowing the environment, the hiring person knows you would not fit in with the cast of characters on hand

Unbeknownst to you, you consciously or subconsciously reminded the hiring person of someone they disliked or mistrusted.   ( This happened to me when I was leading a seminar and was repulsed by an individual I had never met before....his resemblance to a troublemaker I had known was uncanny !  Had to ensure I treated him just as I would the other conferees. )

To anyone in job search:  Good Luck and keep moving !

[drizzellla]

I once interviewed a young lady for a job in the loan department of a large insurance company. She had gone through the initial interview. And now I was the talk to her about what the job entailed.

As I walked into the room, she was applying polish to her nails. I thought she would stop polishing her nails during our interview. But no - she kept doing her nails during the interview.

She did not get the job. 

[Desertdi]

Well, at two places (when I was new in town), I was told that I was OLDER than the HR person's GRANDMOTHER,  and at another, that all my references "must be dead".    I am NOT joking.....these instances really happened to me.      

[jeanlake]

Oh, what we don't know. (Should be a Dr. Suess quote). I sat on a few hiring committees over the past three year. One qualified, lovely middle aged lady giggled after every answer. I stopped writing notes after Question #4. A 20ish lady first wanted to see the artwork in the area she'd be working. Bad art made her nervous. A 30ish lady, workin on her master's degree, kept saying she earned a master's degree. Finally, the committee chair reminded her she was still in the program. Her final question -- how long do you think it will be before I become Registrar? She applied for administrative assistant position. One man kept saying -- I know I'm a man, but.... A lady practically laid on the interview table as she dramatically shared how much she needed that job. A woman talked non-stop about her 15 year old son. Worked him into every answer. Another person claimed to work at the college I retired from and was in the department next door the same year I worked there. I didn't have a clue who this person was. A lady in her 40s said upfront -- I will let you know now - I'm the most qualified candidate. Committee Chair said - Why, yes you are. You are our first candidate interviewed. In general, reading through typos and sloppy resumes and cover letters can cross your eyes.

It's hard work applying for jobs, preparing resumes and cover letters and sitting through interviews. Competition is tough. You have to be on top of your game. 

Laughs aside -- there is an ageism problem in our culture. If you're 60+ with excellent credentials and interview skills -- you may get passed over for people who may stay with the company longer than you will - no guarantees, though. Missed opportunity when employers do this. IMO     

[Carmie]

I once interviewed for a job internally in the company I was working for.  I dressed in business attire and made sure I looked perfect.

When I went to the interviewers office, he closed the door, sat down on his chair, leaned back and put his shoeless feet on the top of his desk.  He asked me the normal interview questions while I had to look at his feet with a hole in the sock the whole time.

I keep wondering if this was part of the interview and if he was testing me for something. it was very uncomfortable. I just pretended it wasn't happening.

A young man who worked in my department interviewed for the same position.  When he came back from his interview, his face was white and he looked shaken.  I asked him how it went and he said that he thought he really messed up.

He said the interviewer asked him how bad he wanted the job and what he was willing to go to get it.  He replied that he would do a certain sexual act.  I almost passed out and agreed that he would not get the job and could be reported to HR for that comment.

Two days later, he got an acceptance letter.

I dodged a bullet by not getting that job.

[IamMrsG]

When I applied for a job in the early 70s, it was openly stated that successful male applicants would be making a larger salary than their female co-workers performing the same function.  Of course I asked for an explanation.  

I spun on my heels and walked out when the answer I was given--and I am not embellishing this-- was, “Because you will sit down when you pee.” 

On another occasion, I once turned down a job offer because of the work environment I saw at the interview.  It was so awful I could not imagine the employees being held in any kind of esteem.  

[Kachina624]

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@Desertdi wrote:

Well, at two places (when I was new in town), I was told that I was OLDER than the HR person's GRANDMOTHER,  and at another, that all my references "must be dead".    I am NOT joking.....these instances really happened to me.      

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@Desertdi.  And you're not rich from the discrimination suit you filed through the EEOC?

[Nataliesgramma]

I can add 2 more....

Do I Have to pass a drug test......

Do I have to show up every day.....

I don't have a car....can someone here pick me up?

[Desertdi]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

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@Desertdi wrote:

Well, at two places (when I was new in town), I was told that I was OLDER than the HR person's GRANDMOTHER,  and at another, that all my references "must be dead".    I am NOT joking.....these instances really happened to me.      

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@Desertdi.  And you're not rich from the discrimination suit you filed through the EEOC?

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@Kachina624   Fat chance -- this is a "right to work" state.    One place even offered me $4.25/hr (no benefits).......and wondered why I didn't jump at it.......    I had some really awful jobs, until I could convince them I wasn't just here "for the season"............