Employers scheduling interviews when you have to work

[IcedEarth]

This has now happened to me twice, and the first time I was so excited that I used a sick day to get out of work and go (as the interview was nearly a 2 hour drive away).

 

Now the lady calls and says the interview is at the exact time I show up to my office, and no they can't do any other time.

 

So employers want employed people, but refuse to be flexible on interview times? That's nice.

[january2011]

I suspect that this is a rant/vent rather than you looking for advice.

 

In my location and from talking to other people, the situation you describe is pretty standard. I'm a little surprised that jobseekers like you and PhillyDude aren't more flexible, since you're the ones going for the job and the employer doesn't owe you anything. It's nice if they can accommodate you but I wouldn't say that they are being unreasonable if they don't/can't. It's up to you to take from that what you will and whether or not you'd be willing to work for someone like that.

 

Flexibility with interviewing schedule isn't an obligation on the employer's part, in my opinion. Especially for junior roles, volume recruitment situations, or in industries where there are plenty of suitable applicants who are more than willing to bend over backwards to make the interview date and time suggested by the employer. It would be different if the role is highly specialised, very senior and/or you are being headhunted rather than applying for advertised positions. In that situation, you'd have more leverage.

[carhill]

When my best friend stole a valued employee away from another employer recently, he scheduled the meeting for 5:15pm, to give the guy 15 minutes get there. This promoted the concept that respect of time is a two-way street. They spent most of the meeting going over the guy's non-compete contract and discussing his business strategy for how to respect it and still bring the other employer's business in-house.

 

Tough world out there. For either side, it depends on who wants the most. If I were an employee seeking a positive job move, and had investigated the potential employer to be valuable in that move, creativity would enter the picture. Sure, don't burn bridges but there are ways to keep them in place and still bend things a bit. The key is in being a valued employee. Those are in demand. Always.

[IcedEarth]

I suspect that this is a rant/vent rather than you looking for advice.

 

In my location and from talking to other people, the situation you describe is pretty standard. I'm a little surprised that jobseekers like you and PhillyDude aren't more flexible, since you're the ones going for the job and the employer doesn't owe you anything. It's nice if they can accommodate you but I wouldn't say that they are being unreasonable if they don't/can't. It's up to you to take from that what you will and whether or not you'd be willing to work for someone like that.

 

Flexibility with interviewing schedule isn't an obligation on the employer's part, in my opinion. Especially for junior roles, volume recruitment situations, or in industries where there are plenty of suitable applicants who are more than willing to bend over backwards to make the interview date and time suggested by the employer. It would be different if the role is highly specialised, very senior and/or you are being headhunted rather than applying for advertised positions. In that situation, you'd have more leverage.

 

Be more flexible...how? I have Monday off and she refused. I asked for 9am, she refused. 830? No. 8? No.

 

I am flexible, she decided to make the only time when I'm AT work. Are you saying I should just say **** my current job and go? You're wrong, sorry.

 

She could've done a whole bunch of times but instead chose one time and won't budge from it, that's her fault and THEY need to be more flexible. Not me. Last time was the same nonsense and I had to lie to my employer to get out of work and go to it, and I went through 3 interviews and a two month process with the first interview 2 hours away when the job was 30 mins away.

[january2011]

Be more flexible...how? I have Monday off and she refused. I asked for 9am, she refused. 830? No. 8? No.

 

I am flexible, she decided to make the only time when I'm AT work. Are you saying I should just say **** my current job and go? You're wrong, sorry.

 

She could've done a whole bunch of times but instead chose one time and won't budge from it, that's her fault and THEY need to be more flexible. Not me.

 

No, I'm not saying that exactly and I'm not wrong.

 

I've been on both sides of recruitment as a candidate and a recruiter and that's what gives me the right to think that I know what I'm talking about. You are welcome to ignore or listen as you please.

 

As carhill wrote, if you really want this, then you're going to have to find a way to make it happen. If the recruiter is going to be difficult about it, then you need to weigh up a number of factors. Is this the right job and company for you? Have you been looking for a job for a while? How easy and quickly can you get to this stage again with the current job market and your skillset?

 

Again, how much do you want this?

[JamesM]

Having interviewed many people, I can see both sides.

 

The interviewer has a list of people to talk with. She looks at each as a name. In her mind, if you wanted the job, then you would make time.

 

But you have a good point and one that I always considered. If this person is willing to screw his current employer and hide this interview, then wouldn't he do the same to me? I always respected those like you who wanted to schedule an appointment around their job and worked with them.

 

IMO, her attitude says alot about her and less about her company. But it does tell you that you may not fit in.

 

Personally, it is even better if your current employer knows that you are interviewing. It makes for a better transition in many cases.

[scratch]

She could've done a whole bunch of times but instead chose one time and won't budge from it, that's her fault and THEY need to be more flexible. Not me.

 

Before you decide what they need to do, think about the consequences their inflexibility has for them. Are there any? The main one I can see is that candidates such as yourself will withdraw from consideration.

 

Do you suspect there are relatively few candidates for the position(s) they are trying to fill? If so, they're going to figure out pretty quickly that they will need to be more flexible, and if you're an exceptional candidate, you'll get a call asking for the times that work for you. If not, well, good luck in finding another job or excelling in your current one.

[IcedEarth]

As my friend said, they're likely doing this as a formality and have already found their candidate. I agree, so **** em.

 

I'm not lying to my boss again for something that's likely not to happen anyway, especially when they're being inflexible for a stupid reason "We want to do them all on the same day" which means had she called me BEFORE someone else, this wouldn't be an issue.

 

Not my fault, employers cannot expect you to constantly screw your current boss over for the remote possibility of a new job. To think otherwise...I can't even.

 

Having interviewed many people, I can see both sides.

 

The interviewer has a list of people to talk with. She looks at each as a name. In her mind, if you wanted the job, then you would make time.

 

But you have a good point and one that I always considered. If this person is willing to screw his current employer and hide this interview, then wouldn't he do the same to me? I always respected those like you who wanted to schedule an appointment around their job and worked with them.

 

IMO, her attitude says alot about her and less about her company. But it does tell you that you may not fit in.

 

Personally, it is even better if your current employer knows that you are interviewing. It makes for a better transition in many cases.

 

Well he knows in general, but he's also the type of paranoid boss who'll replace me if he thinks I'm remotely close to leaving. So it's a huge risk to tell him.

 

If she thinks someone has to take a time they didn't discuss with me when she already knows I have a job, then frankly she's an idiot and shouldn't be working in HR. I've hired people too, I'd never be this inflexible, it's wrong.

 

"Oh hey I can't make it my wife is dying that day"

 

"TOO BAD SHOW UP OR ELSE YOU DON'T WANT IT!"

 

Sorry, no.

 

No, I'm not saying that exactly and I'm not wrong.

 

I've been on both sides of recruitment as a candidate and a recruiter and that's what gives me the right to think that I know what I'm talking about. You are welcome to ignore or listen as you please.

 

As carhill wrote, if you really want this, then you're going to have to find a way to make it happen. If the recruiter is going to be difficult about it, then you need to weigh up a number of factors. Is this the right job and company for you? Have you been looking for a job for a while? How easy and quickly can you get to this stage again with the current job market and your skillset?

 

Again, how much do you want this?

 

Once again, just no. Have I been looking? No. This is #2 in 5 months I've applied to as it's a police dispatcher job, the last one jerked me around for months until I got down to 3 of us and I didn't get it. Not going through that again.

 

How easily can I get to this stage? By applying again, i.e. easily.

 

Inflexible employers are a bad deal, this is also the type of job where you're expected to show up if the town is flooded, your car is on fire and people are dying all around you because YOU'LL be handling it.

 

Yet they can't budge 30 minutes or one day? **** em.

Edited October 24, 2012 by IcedEarth

[IcedEarth]

Inflexible interviews

 

"Not all of your applicants will currently be unemployed. Of course, there will be genuine reasons for being unable to attend from the serious family emergency to a candidate reflecting that they do not want the post after all (perhaps they live too far away?). However, the most common is likely to be “I can’t get the time off work”. As much as this is an inconvenience to you (I mean, you have managed to set aside a whole day for this) imagine what the candidate is going through…

 

Plucked from possibly a couple of hundred applicants and after a dozen or so rejections (some employers won’t even have said ‘thanks, but no thanks’) they have finally been invited to interview. Now their job quest really begins – the prep work, rehearsing answers to possible questions, researching your company’s website, picking an outfit, a new haircut, sorting out travel and timings and controlling their nerves. Oh, and asking their current boss for a day off at short notice …"

 

 

So when you think about it, a candidate can be in a really difficult position. Short of chucking a sickie, this half-hour appointment you’ve offered is now a serious hurdle.

 

 

And we’re sure your candidate wouldn’t want their prospective new employer to know that they’re prepared to fake an illness to get a day off work."

[IcedEarth]

They changed it, so it'll be a week later and at 8:30 in the morning.

[pink_sugar]

To be honest, I think most good employers are willing to work with potential employees who have current employment. Because if you think about it, would they really want someone to call in sick at their job so they can make it to their interview? As an employer, I wouldn't. Because I wouldn't want that employee to do that at my company. A potential employee doing his/her best to work the interview around their work schedule shows responsibility and dedication...what employer wouldn't value that? I think it's shady if an employer expects an employee to try and leave during work hours for another job. I wouldn't want to work for a company like that. I mean, if an employer is making it clear the only way they can interview you is if you call in sick, that's a bad sign.

 

However, if this is your dream job and they can only host the interview during certain times...you may do what you need to do. It depends on how badly you want this job.

[PhillyDude]

This has now happened to me twice, and the first time I was so excited that I used a sick day to get out of work and go (as the interview was nearly a 2 hour drive away).

 

Now the lady calls and says the interview is at the exact time I show up to my office, and no they can't do any other time.

 

So employers want employed people, but refuse to be flexible on interview times? That's nice.

 

 

That kind of squashes the statement I hear so much....."it's easier to get a job when you already have one"

 

No it ain't. The better statement would be is it's easier to get a call back when you already have another job. I was asking the same question last year, how the hell do you keep going on interviews if you are already working?

 

The only to get a job when you are already employed is having a strong network which means you can start a job without interviewing or interviewing on your own time.

[pink_sugar]

That kind of squashes the statement I hear so much....."it's easier to get a job when you already have one"

 

No it ain't. The better statement would be is it's easier to get a call back when you already have another job. I was asking the same question last year, how the hell do you keep going on interviews if you are already working?

 

The only to get a job when you are already employed is having a strong network which means you can start a job without interviewing or interviewing on your own time.

 

Well, it's kinda like a catch 22. It looks better to an employer to not have long history of unemployment. And sometimes they will ask you why you haven't found a job. It is total discrimination, but that's how they work it. Yet, due to your work schedule, you aren't immediately free for an interview depending on your work schedule.

[PhillyDude]

Well, it's kinda like a catch 22. It looks better to an employer to not have long history of unemployment. And sometimes they will ask you why you haven't found a job. It is total discrimination, but that's how they work it. Yet, due to your work schedule, you aren't immediately free for an interview depending on your work schedule.

 

 

Well that's not always true because I applied to a job friday and they called me today to schedule a interview and my employment end date on my resume says 2011. And if I was to ever be asked why I haven't found a job I would walk out of the interview.

 

Mainly because it would be retarded to call me to come in after seeing my resume and then question me about why I haven't found a job. That is disrespectful.

[JamesM]

Well that's not always true because I applied to a job friday and they called me today to schedule a interview and my employment end date on my resume says 2011. And if I was to ever be asked why I haven't found a job I would walk out of the interview.

 

Mainly because it would be retarded to call me to come in after seeing my resume and then question me about why I haven't found a job. That is disrespectful.

 

Actually, many questions are asked to determine the character of a prospective employee. It would not be disrespectful to ask, and it would be an opportunity for you to clear up any misconceptions the interviewer might have.

 

Reasons why you haven't found a job include...you weren't looking, you had a specific career/job that you sought, you wanted to be with a company that did (fill in the blank). Many reasons can be given that are not demeaning.

 

Walking out guarantees of course, no job, and it may have been an innocent question that was not meant to put you down.

[PhillyDude]

Actually, many questions are asked to determine the character of a prospective employee. It would not be disrespectful to ask, and it would be an opportunity for you to clear up any misconceptions the interviewer might have.

 

Reasons why you haven't found a job include...you weren't looking, you had a specific career/job that you sought, you wanted to be with a company that did (fill in the blank). Many reasons can be given that are not demeaning.

 

Walking out guarantees of course, no job, and it may have been an innocent question that was not meant to put you down.

 

I honestly believe that a person will not ask that question if they are interested. They wouldn't care that you been out of work for a while just that you are available now.

[january2011]

I honestly believe that a person will not ask that question if they are interested. They wouldn't care that you been out of work for a while just that you are available now.

 

It's important due diligence for a recruiter to ask an interviewee what they've been doing if they have an employment gap in their CV.

[PhillyDude]

It's important due diligence for a recruiter to ask an interviewee what they've been doing if they have an employment gap in their CV.

 

Isn't the obvious answer "job seeking" if the recruiter received the person's resume???

[Els]

I do think it's a little crappy of them, but people tend to do what they can get away with. In this case, they lose very little if you turn them down, but not vice versa.

 

I do admire how people manage to find a good job and attend interviews while simultaneously holding down another job with inflexible work hours. Interviews are almost universally held within office hours, so you have to take time off to go.. but you have to go to several interviews usually, so how do you get THAT much time off? Would be interested in hearing how people do it.

[january2011]

Isn't the obvious answer "job seeking" if the recruiter received the person's resume???

 

No, you could have been spending your time volunteering/interning, acting as the primary caregiver to a close family member, seriously ill, travelling, studying. Any number of activities other than just "job-seeking."

 

In my location, I've found that a lot of employers want to see something more than just "job-seeking" to explain employment gaps. Especially employment gaps that are substantial like yours.

[PhillyDude]

No, you could have been spending your time volunteering/interning, acting as the primary caregiver to a close family member, seriously ill, travelling, studying. Any number of activities other than just "job-seeking."

 

In my location, I've found that a lot of employers want to see something more than just "job-seeking" to explain employment gaps. Especially employment gaps that are substantial like yours.

 

Then why waste time calling me in if they are going to interrogate me? Wouldn't it be better if to ignore me?

[PhillyDude]

I do think it's a little crappy of them, but people tend to do what they can get away with. In this case, they lose very little if you turn them down, but not vice versa.

 

I do admire how people manage to find a good job and attend interviews while simultaneously holding down another job with inflexible work hours. Interviews are almost universally held within office hours, so you have to take time off to go.. but you have to go to several interviews usually, so how do you get THAT much time off? Would be interested in hearing how people do it.

 

I explained how.

 

1. Strong network where you can start a job without interviewing

 

2. You are able to interview on your own like the evenings or weekends

[JamesM]

Isn't the obvious answer "job seeking" if the recruiter received the person's resume???

 

And I have had more than one candidate who was living in an "apartment" provided by the County.

 

The job of the interviewer in the first interview is to weed out as many people as possible. The job in the second interview (or third) is to find the best candidate of those left.

 

The goal of the "job seeker" is to survive to the next level. Knowing that the first interview is about finding red flags means that you do not want to provide any. And not answering a question honestly and completely is one way to give them one.

[PhillyDude]

And I have had more than one candidate who was living in an "apartment" provided by the County.

 

The job of the interviewer in the first interview is to weed out as many people as possible. The job in the second interview (or third) is to find the best candidate of those left.

 

The goal of the "job seeker" is to survive to the next level. Knowing that the first interview is about finding red flags means that you do not want to provide any. And not answering a question honestly and completely is one way to give them one.

 

So seeking the RIGHT OPPORTUNITY is a red flag in 2012????

[UpwardForward]

 

Once again, just no. Have I been looking? No. This is #2 in 5 months I've applied to as it's a police dispatcher job, the last one jerked me around for months until I got down to 3 of us and I didn't get it. Not going through that again.

 

How easily can I get to this stage? By applying again, i.e. easily.

 

Inflexible employers are a bad deal, this is also the type of job where you're expected to show up if the town is flooded, your car is on fire and people are dying all around you because YOU'LL be handling it.

 

Yet they can't budge 30 minutes or one day? **** em.

 

Perhaps she's testing you to be certain you will be able to professionally accommodate the department, in every manner incl timewise.

 

No offense, but I don't think you have the temperament to be in the police department.

 

Realizing there are already many nasty impatient people in the department, doesn't make it right.

 

I have no idea why so many in law enforcement find it necessary to 'throw their weight around' so to speak, but aside from being able to do the job in a timely manner (which I'm not arguing), you must be able to Work With the Public, congenial etc.