Company not taking me serious? (Engineering Technician) 6

[Panther140]

I have been a candidate for a position as an engineering technician at a company for over a month. It is a job I would love, and it is dealing with engines, which is by far what I know the most about.

Here is a chronology of everything I have done with them:
1- 40 minute HR phone interview
2- 3 hour long "caliper" online personality and aptitude test
3- 60 minute interview with lab manager
4- 5 hour on-site interview meeting with 8 people in the department -- (It went well for the most part and they said I did really well in the analytic portion of the test)
5- Phone call from HR telling me they think I would be a better fit for the other position that I applied for
6- 3 hour on-site interview with the guys from that department -- I was asked twice if I would consider working there through a contractor :/ (This interview went really well and these guys acted more enthusiastic about me as a candidate)

They have a rapidly growing department as they are implementing a lot of new technology into their engines, but what does all of this mean as far as how they view me as a candidate? I am concerned with the fact that they are mentioning contracting agencies. What does this generally mean in your company when they do things like this?

 

[KENAT]

"What does this generally mean in your company when they do things like this?"

It means we have internal budget/accounting/shareholder/HR bureaucracy BS.

Seldom is it a reflection on the candidate.

However, it may mean the candidate wants to consider us more carefully.

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[Panther140]

Thanks for the feedback on that. Its actually a really strong company and I have already met my possible coworkers who all seem like rational guys to work with. I really don't like all of the bureaucracy, so if I have to deal with this much of it on a regular basis I probably would take that into consideration, although it is definitely my best opportunity right now and id take their offer if they called me right now

 

[berkshire]

A lot of companies will use " contract to hire" where they use a staffing agency for an initial hiring period. They will see how you perform after the initial shine has worn off, then, if they still like you , they will put you on full time.
This is a way of weeding out candidates who look good on initial inspection, but who do not perform as expected.
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

 

[TheTick]

Contract-to-direct also works to your advantage as well. If you leave at the end of your contract, it was just a contract job, not a departure from a direct job.

As far as the HR hijinx, there's not much you can do but ride along. Chances are, there's a manager that would like you to start yesterday, and he's dealing with the same BS.

 

[Panther140]

Yeah I think if they can give me a higher level of certainty for a direct hire, then I will take it. Either way, this is the type of work that I actually want to do and this would be great on my resume in the field. I sent the HR manager an Email basically giving him the message that I want the job, but I cant screw around anymore because I have 3 other job offers that I am juggling right now while waiting for them to wrap up this exhausting hiring process. Every other job that I interviewed for this month was promptly followed by a job offer that I would normally not hesitate to accept

 

[GregLocock]

I have a feeling you are going to find out how much people like ultimatums.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[tygerdawg]

Yeah, Greg's on to something there. I hope that I'm wrong, but I might see a pattern in your comments Panther.

From my experience the criteria for hiring someone is only partially technical. Usually the deciding factor is based on personality issues. No manager wants to create a situation of disharmony in their organization. During the interview process any slight hint or indication of normal, valid, but perhaps inadvertent & unfortunate human traits such as frustration, resentment, aggressive drive, overbearing demeanor, negativity, arrogance, or any type of bitterness will get you a "no, thanks." Managers are humans and darned finicky sometimes. It doesn't take much to rub 'em the wrong way. And the process ain't fair.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[TheTick]

Ultimatums are fine if they're rational and you're prepared for the worst. That's how I knocked my last job off top-dead-center. I informed them I had another opportunity (truth) and I couldn't wait any more. Suddenly the seas parted and I was on board.

 

[Panther140]

Greg and Tyler, my email to them was very diplomatic and I kept everything worded positively. I am being a lot more candid on here where my frustration wont cost me a job. My email to the HR manager used a lot of tact while also giving them the message that I honestly have other job offers that I have not accepted and that I would really like to be hired on directly.

If the email that I actually sent him is enough to take me out of the running, then they weren't seriously considering me in the first place. I got along really well with the personalities there, and I had a lot of common interests with them such as boats and motorcycles. The manager of the division actually commented that he liked my attitude more than other candidates, and hardly any of the technical questions were on topics that I couldn't hold an intelligent conversation about (There was one time when they were using their own made-up term referring to a manometer).

 

[Panther140]

Tick, you are right. I am prepared for the worst at this point. There is only so much I can do as a candidate and I hope my email reminded them that I have a lot on the line. They might want to be careful and make sure they're making a good hire, and I get that 100%. They take a risk whenever they hire somebody, but I have rent, food, gas, student loans, insurance, car repairs, and maybe something fun to spend money on at some time

 

[Panther140]

They just called me and gave me a verbal offer for the exact pay that I requested as a direct hire, and I accepted. I am pretty excited

 

[JNieman]

Congratulations. Sometimes being aggressive can exude a confidence that puts another positive mark on your evaluation... if performed diplomatically. Or maybe it can motivate the manager who is already sold on hiring you to go to HR and light a fire under the rear of whoever is holding up the process.)

Congratulations, again.

_________________________________________
NX8.0, Solidworks 2014, AutoCAD, Enovia V5

 

[GregLocock]

Well done.



Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

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[Panther140]

Thanks guys

 

[SkipVought]

This wasn't quite a "turn-key" thread but close enough.

We got the events leading up to Panther's opening salvo, the frustrations and grasping for the next step to take. Good feedback. Musings about alternative courses of action.

And then, the result he'd been working toward all along. Victory! Excitement! Resolution!

What a "Reality Show!"

Skip,

_{Just traded in my OLD subtlety...
for a NUance!}

 

[EQguys]

Panther140: Beware of a verbal offer. It does not mean didly squat. Get it in writing and signed off by them.

 

[Panther140]

EQguys, I know. It sucks that its not "official" yet. They have to run a background check first, but I dont have any criminal record or anything bad from my past. I'm only 19 (Graduated high school at 17), so there is basically nothing in my background or credit report other than student loans and a laptop I bought with an in-store credit card.

 

[KENAT]

Congrats, re. verbal V written, yes written is better than verbal but I know of a case where someone got a call the day before they were to start the job saying the position had been eliminated due to budget cuts so nothings set in stone unless you have some contractual clause or equivalent about it.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

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(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[brandonbw]

Kenat: I had something like that happen while trying to take a job overseas. Right as my work Visa was about to be approved, the manager called and said the job was gone. The Visa for Australia was a long process and they even hired a company to help me out. I doubt this is even close to the OP's situation, but damn if I still don't remember selling just about everything to move to another Country. That was a bit more than verbal too.

B+W Engineering and Design | Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer

http://bwengr.com