Moans and Pet Hates Part 7

[Gary L]

It's hotmail asking. but I've given them a fake one now to shut them up.

I don't bother with it enough to change to outlook.

[Hom3r]

Companies I deal with at work.

I work in the aviation industry for an MRO (Maintenance Repair Organisation)

I need to contact them to obtain manuals to repair airplane parts.

But a large number refuse to release to MROs/3rd parties, some don't even both to say sod off or even acknowledge emails.

Those that do often charge anywhere between $450 to $20,000.

Thank god I don't have to pay.

[Russ]

Potential employers that just love to BS.

I recently went for an interview with a well-known and respected company for a job that I know I can do. There were a series of preliminaries such as telephone interviews etc which were fair enough and I passed them. I was then invited along to a group assessment.

My heart sank when I was told we would be split in to groups for 'role play' sessions and a "Dragon's Den" type assessment. I really can't stand these stupid wishy-washy Americanised ways of recruitment. I went along with it anyway and I passed, I was later told I came second out of 43 people people.

The top 8 people were asked to stick around for a one-to-one interview which was fair enough even though I wasn't expecting it as we were not told about it.

I went through the interview answering all the questions and the interviewer even said she felt it went well. I was told I would hear from them within a week.

Over a week later I'd heard nothing so I called them back only to be told I was unsuccessful as apparently during the interview I 'failed to give examples' when answering their questions.

This has really annoyed me. OK I'm disappointed but at no time was I asked to give examples and better than that, none of the questions I was asked were ones that you'd usually give 'examples' to. They also said they felt some of my answers were 'vague' - ok I dispute that anyway but bearing in mind the interviews were sprung on us and I wasn't given time to prepare.

If indeed my answers lacked 'examples' and were 'vague' why did the interview say she felt it went well?

Again I won't hide the fact I'm disappointed and a little bitter but I think I'm justified if this is how they treat people. On the upside they said I was welcome to re-apply in 3 months and did so well that I could skip the preliminaries but I'm not sure I'd want to.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by Russ

My heart sank when I was told we would be split in to groups for 'role play' sessions...

Oh gawd! I absolutely hate those.

Originally Posted by Russ

If indeed my answers lacked 'examples' and were 'vague' why did the interview say she felt it went well?

Because they think that's what you want to hear, maybe? No. I don't really know either

I had an interview a few months ago. Like you, it was a job I knew I could do really well. When they called me to tell me I hadn't got it, I asked why; as you do. They said it was because I didn't have any "call centre" experience. Except that they never specifically asked if I had. The job would have been three of us in a room. Not exactly what I would call a 'call centre'

Oh well! Put it down to another 'near miss' and move on

[MalteseFalcon]

I hate those things as well, applied for a job once and there was no mention of doing group interviews, I was told it was one on one interviews as I have a fear of speaking in public in a group of people. They assured me it was one on one, when I got there it was one of those damn RP interviews before the one on one interview. Even though I really wanted the job, I walked out of the company and never applied there again.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

Because they think that's what you want to hear, maybe? No. I don't really know either

If they're a company that only tells people what they want to hear then that lowers them even further in my estimation.

Here's another example about a different job I've recently applied for.

It's through an agency and I passed their typing and IT test with flying colours. As a result my CV was passed on to the employer and the start date is pretty soon. So I'm waiting to hear from them.

I sent an email to the agency and this is how it went:

From: Jill W***** [mailto:Jill.W*****@*****-*****.co.uk]
Sent: 30 August 2012 14:43
Subject: Technical Support Agent
Hi
Just to keep you updated on *********, your cv has just been sent over for the above vacancy.
The start date is the 10th September.
Please confirm receipt of this e-mail and let me know if you have any new contact details.

Many thanks


Jill W*****
Recruitment Consultant

________________________________________
From: Russ Burt [mailto:russburt@**********.com]
Sent: 30 August 2012 16:06
To: Jill W*****
Subject: RE: Technical Support Agent

Hi Jill

Thanks for that, do you know when they’ll be contacting people?
Regards

Russ

Hi

Sorry there is no news at the moment.

Thanks


Jill W*****
Recruitment Consultant

Now I found her reply a little odd as she seemed to be answering a question I didn't ask. So I requested clarification:

________________________________________
From: Russ Burt [mailto:russburt@**********.com]
Sent: 04 September 2012 09:32
To: Jill W*****
Subject: Re: Technical Support Agent

Hi Jill

If I'm not successful do you know if ******** will let me know?

Regards

Russ

On 31 Aug 2012, at 10:27, Jill W***** <Jill.W*****@*****.co.uk> wrote:

Hi Russ

Sorry I have no news at the moment.

Thanks


Jill W*****
Recruitment Consultant

Again, she was answering a question I hadn't asked. It's pretty clear to me that she's not even bothering to read what I'm asking her.

She told me the next contact would be from the employer so I wanted to know would they be informing unsuccessful candidates or not. I think it's pretty clear I'm asking that. However she thinks I'm asking "Have you heard anything from them".

If she doesn't even have the common decency and respect to pay attention to an honest and straightforward question then she shouldn't be in her job.

So I played along and asked her a third time...

Hi Jill

Thanks for letting me know, that's a shame.

However if I'm not successful do you know if ******* will let me know?

Regards

Russ

Will she actually read my email this time? Third time lucky I hope...

[carlwaring]

I hate agencies. They're certainly no good for someone with my lack of employment. It seems they're not much good for other people either

[MalteseFalcon]

I've had to threaten 2 different recruitment agencies with the small claims court when they wouldn't pay me the wages I was owed. It wasn't until I started the proceedings that they backed down and one even gave me an additional £100 for the trouble caused.

[dilli-theclaw]

I have a big box of socks to sort before Natalie gets home, no mean feat when you can't even see what colour they are i tell you :-)

[danielf]

I only wear black socks. Sorted

[dilli-theclaw]

That doesn't work they don't all wear / fade at the same rate

---------- Post added at 16:11 ---------- Previous post was at 16:11 ----------

Still I have now got peter doing it

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Russ

My heart sank when I was told we would be split in to groups for 'role play' sessions

Role play's alright when you're doing it in the privacy of your own home.

did you have to pretend you were an object, an animal or a person?

[danielf]

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

That doesn't work they don't all wear / fade at the same rate

---------- Post added at 16:11 ---------- Previous post was at 16:11 ----------

Still I have now got peter doing it

True. (Partly) Rolling them together before chucking them in the laundry bin helps though

[Caff]

Perhaps this should be in the Paralympics thread - but I hate hearing a report of an event where an athlete "... who settled for a bronze".
The word is WON. Grrr.

---------- Post added at 22:14 ---------- Previous post was at 22:10 ----------

Originally Posted by danielf

True. (Partly) Rolling them together before chucking them in the laundry bin helps though

I wash 'em, dry 'em and leave them for everyone to sort out for themselves. And if they don't quite get their own black socks - then: (no one will notice let alone care )

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by Caff

Perhaps this should be in the Paralympics thread - but I hate hearing a report of an event where an athlete "... who settled for a bronze". The word is WON. Grrr.

Isn't the phrase "has to settle for...."? Or not. But I agree anyway