Was called in for an interview

[GalileoG]

I need to vent my frustration, sorry in advance for the rant.

I was called in to an interview yesterday to a structural office, after being laid off for several months. It was my first interview since being laid off, so I knew I had to get this right. I get there, introduce myself, and was then escorted to the board room, where I found more than 15 people waiting. They called in 15 people for interviews and a technical exam for 1 opening position in a 12-man structural office, course it's a publicity stunt. It was outrageous, and a humiliating experience. After writing the structural exam, we all waited our turns for interviews (talk about wasting everyone's time.) My turn came up (second from last,) and at that point, I was ready to walk away and withdraw my candidacy, but went through anyways. I was talked down to, their tone of voice was rude, and they simply would not stop asking why I left the company I was with 2 years ago. They also asked for my age, which should be a no no.

Don't cha love when a turd of a company like this one has an inflated ego and prey on people's desperation in a time of recession for their own ends? Before the recession, they would have hired anyone with a freaking pulse.

I keep thinking to the 50 or so year old man in that board room, who was one of the candidates for the position (junior to intermediate) having to compete with a bunch of baby faces. This is so sad, I can imagine how humiliating it must have been for him.

Clansman

If a builder has built a house for a man and has not made his work sound, and the house which he has built has fallen down and so caused the death of the householder, that builder shall be put to death." Code of Hammurabi, c.2040 B.C.

 

[photoengineer]

Yes, I've been there and done that. It's frustrating.

My worst interview was a few years back at a company that makes rockets in Chandler, AZ. You'd think that a company that does rocket science would be cool. Wrong. I saw they were having a pre-interview event on Saturday so I went. I found there was a line 100 people long outside the building and they had multiple security officers on site allowing a few in at a time. I was there for about an hour and then saw a line 20 deep of people giving resumes to the recruiters for the engineering positions.

Well, I got a call back for an interview. I was employed at the time and asked if I could do a late afternoon interview. The lady on the phone was snotty and said that I would just have to take time off work to interview at their convenience. I took a half day off and went to the interview at the scheduled time (2pm). They weren't ready and I waited for an hour in the waiting room for them to interview me.

The people running the interview gave me a test in GD&T but they didn't like my answer very well. We chatted for a while, and then they mentioned the job was a 3 month contract position.

I never did hear back from them.

 

[patprimmer]

why would you even contemplate working for such a company.

Their conduct firmly established them as an unsuitable business partner and guilt by association could well ruin any career you might have after this recession is recovered. I would sooner stack shelves at the local supermarket in the interim.

Regards
Pat
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[SomptingGuy]

I applied for a sponsorship (co-op, intern, etc) with a company (Does "Metal Box" still exist?) at the same time I was applying for university places.

The numbers shocked me. 3000 people asked for application forms. 2000 were sent out. 500 got first interviews. 60 got second interviews. 30 got places. That's 1%. 440 disappointed applicants. 30 shattered applicants.

- Steve

 

[MadMango]

I interviewed for a new start-up branch for medical device company in California. There must have been at least 30 candidates, and we were all in one room filling out paperwork. When everyone was finished, we were broken into several different groups. The groups went different directions to various conference rooms to interview with 5 select managers. Typically the conference room had a line of people outside while one candidate was inside with the manager. I thought that was a bit disorienting and confusing, especially given the maze-like structure of the complex. It was also a bit uncomfortable, as groups were paraded through the cubicle farms and common areas in front of the other employees. A lot of visual sizing-up of prospective co-workers happened.

After the round of interviews we were all herded back to the starting point, and as your name was called out you were asked to leave the room. These candidates did not make the cut. The second round of names were sent away for follow-up interviews, but were never again seen as employees of the company. The 6 of us remaining in the conference room were later greeted by the CEO and CFO and much hoopla and sunshine-blowing occurred.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[Waidesworld]

Jeez it seems the interview process these days is getting closer and closer to a reality show. Next time guy s that it looks like a group interview,keep an eye out for the Fox cameraman.
I wonder how long it will be before Donald Trump patents this style of interviewing.

drawn to design, designed to draw

 

[NomLaser]

I know that everyone that has been laid off gets desperate but I would have to seriously consider walking out of the interview if it ended up being a group interview. It's one thing to see another potential candidate leaving as you are in the lobby waiting, but to be herded like cattle is disrespectful to everyone involved.

 

[NomLaser]

I meant to add this note...

I wouldn't even wait for the interviewer to explain. I would let the secretary know and to pass along the message. They should get the same respect that they offer.

 

[mechengdude]

Sorry to hear of the troubles. Only bright spot is that you found out they were a bad company before you were unfortunate enough to be hired by them.

My experience is that a company never treats you any better than during the interview process. If they suck during the interview don't expect it to get better.

 

[TheTick]

The trend seems to be that some people are taking advantage of the current economy in order to become the @$$holes they always wanted to be.

 

[patprimmer]

I have suggested during interviews that I saw no point in continuing and got up and politely left.

I have impolitely left when kept waiting for over 1/2 an hour without a sincere sounding convincing apology. Same thing with doctors and dentists when I had an appointment. I normally say to the receptionist as I leave that I am sorry as I know it's not her fault, but I don't wait for people who are to rude to keep their appointments.

Regards
Pat
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[Ron]

I'm in there with The Tick and Pat Primmer. There's no reason to treat people in this manner in the interview process...imagine how you'd be treated after employment!

 

[tickle]

Interviews are a two way process - do they like you and do you like them. From the OP I am guessin ghtat you do not. PS tell your friends.

 

[PeterStock]

I had an interview where the person I was to interview with could not make it due to an unscheduled conference call with a customer. It is not always that they are being rude, but a bit disorganized. (I did not get a call back to reschedule, no loss).

Peter Stockhausen
Senior Design Analyst (Checker)
Infotech Aerospace Services

http://www.infotechpr.net

 

[msquared48]

My son, a Civil PE, had a similar experience as clansman a few years ago when times were better. I hate to think what that firm, if it is still there, is doing mow in their interview process.

Regarding the in-office exam, I would draw piggies all over it, leave it on the table, and walk out. I've done my time.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[TheBourne]

I disagree with this type of interviewing (particularly in engineering), but fact of the matter is that it is advantageous to the employer to see who will "keep their cool", and who will break under the pressure.

 

[HgTX]

There are a lot of crap things an employer can do that are advantageous to the employer. It doesn't mean that those things are right, or that one should wish to be part of a company that will do those things.

Hg

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[TheBourne]

@ HgTX, I agree completely.

With this aggressive interviewing strategy in mind, I would approach it in a diplomatic manner without getting to defensive but also maintaining confidence. I'm sure they don't mean it personally but rather just want to see if you can overlook the emotional aspect of human relations and give them the data they need to know.

Nonetheless, any employer using this screening method runs the risk of giving the impression to the 99% of interviewees (who will likely get jobs elsewhere) that the company hires and functions based off of tasteless ridicule.

 

[Bobber1]

I think if I wound up in a group interview like that, I would stand up in the conference room with all the candidates and announce to all that the majority of us will not get the job so let's all join ourselves into a new company and immediately ask the interviewer to send in some of his/her employees so we could interview them for a job with our new firm. Managers need not apply.

 

[kepharda]

I have to agree with most of the comments, especially, I am interviewing them as much as they are interviewing me.

I think to some degree, you get what you accept. And yes, this is sort of treatment would continue once you where hired.

I have my own example.

The interview for my first job out of college, was pretty long.

Started with breakfast at 8 am with HR Honcho.

Then a 40 min meeting President. Then had 1/2 hour meetings with different managers.

For lunch I went with the Manager that was actually going to be my boss.

After lunch 2 more interviews then back to HR Honcho. Left at about 4 pm.

All in all a very long interview, I felt like they treat their employees pretty well, but were pretty slow to get stuff done and somewhat inefficient in their management.

This is exactly what I thought after I left 3 years later too.

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