tired of runarounds

[pink_sugar]

I usually have a fair amount of interviews luckily, but lately I have been led on by a few employers that pretty much made me feel like I had the job. The first one had me do a phone screen and 2 in person interviews and would not respond to emails. When I finally got a response, it was very impersonal several weeks later. I interviewed for another position that basically said he would be bringing me in for another interview after I sent over my writing sample and then I never hear from the guy once I followed up. I honestly wish places would go back to saying "we'll call you if we decide to move forward" rather than "oh yes, we will be bringing you in to meet so and so". I think going with the first line doesn't make the candidate think you're serious about moving forward if you really aren't.

[GemmaUK]

My only bit of advice is always call, never email.

 

I also always ask an agency or a company for a deadline day.

 

I never leave a message to call me back to a company, nor an agency.

I call them but I would span it out depending upon the deadline.

 

My ex-lodger went through about 6 jobs when she was living at my place for 2 years. She was very erratic though and would walk out of jobs and never go back.She only ever chased via email and was generally left hanging with a bare minimal response or none.

[pink_sugar]

My only bit of advice is always call, never email.

 

I also always ask an agency or a company for a deadline day.

 

I never leave a message to call me back to a company, nor an agency.

I call them but I would span it out depending upon the deadline.

 

My ex-lodger went through about 6 jobs when she was living at my place for 2 years. She was very erratic though and would walk out of jobs and never go back.She only ever chased via email and was generally left hanging with a bare minimal response or none.

 

Yeah, I have tried the call route and it isn't much better from my experience and my husband's. A lot of times the manager won't answer, won't call back or if they do answer, they'll often say they will get back to you or they haven't decided. (I have worked for a few managers like this who avoid calls). Plus, I prefer things in writing to prevent any miscommunication.

Edited September 17, 2015 by pink_sugar

[GemmaUK]

Yeah, I have tried the call route and it isn't much better from my experience and my husband's. A lot of times the manager won't answer, won't call back or if they do answer, they'll often say they will get back to you or they haven't decided. (I have worked for a few managers like this who avoid calls). Plus, I prefer things in writing to prevent any miscommunication.

 

So you know they are fobbing you off then.

It's much easier to tell from a call and then you can move on to the next opportunity.

[applej4]

The time to move on to other opportunities is as soon as the interview is over. If they want to make an offer they will contact you. Applicants often get stuck in the wishing and hoping phase and fantasizing about a promising opportunity – add to that something the interviewer may have said that the applicant wrings a few drops of encouragement from. Some applicants got on two interviews then spend weeks wondering what to do if they get two offers! Ha! yeah, right. Then there’s all the debating as to when to follow up and how to follow up and what it means if they do or do not respond to all the follow up. Sure, employers say a lot of things but applicants also read way too much into every single thing – every word, gesture, voice inflection, how many days it took to get a response to follow up, why they didn’t follow up, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. Employers are not stopping applicants from moving on and looking into other opportunities - applicants are doing that to themselves. Again – if they want to offer you the job they will contact you. It’s that simple. Stop wasting time wondering and wishing that that employers would do things differently. Keep looking into other opportunities.

Edited September 18, 2015 by applej4

[pink_sugar]

The time to move on to other opportunities is as soon as the interview is over. If they want to make an offer they will contact you. Applicants often get stuck in the wishing and hoping phase and fantasizing about a promising opportunity – add to that something the interviewer may have said that the applicant wrings a few drops of encouragement from. Some applicants got on two interviews then spend weeks wondering what to do if they get two offers! Ha! yeah, right. Then there’s all the debating as to when to follow up and how to follow up and what it means if they do or do not respond to all the follow up. Sure, employers say a lot of things but applicants also read way too much into every single thing – every word, gesture, voice inflection, how many days it took to get a response to follow up, why they didn’t follow up, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. Employers are not stopping applicants from moving on and looking into other opportunities - applicants are doing that to themselves. Again – if they want to offer you the job they will contact you. It’s that simple. Stop wasting time wondering and wishing that that employers would do things differently. Keep looking into other opportunities.

 

I get that and I do continue to apply, but I still don't understand telling an applicant that they will be brought in to meet so and so, if they don't plan on doing so. What is the point of that? I honestly prefer a simple "we'll give you a call if we decide to move forward" or "we're still deciding, the applicant we hire will receive a phone call and we will inform the rest of the candidates by email". Actually, most of my jobs have been this way. Also, I have gotten two jobs that I followed up with by showing persistence. Some people are just busy and need a little nudge. Following up can only help you, so I don't see why you're so against following up.

[kenmore]

Pink Sugar, you know why they do this. It's because they are pussies.

 

Nobody has the backbone to say it like it is. America has bred a society of people who don't know how to be blunt and speak the truth. This is since my time, it's a recent development but most managers are younger than me now.

 

Gemma, maybe it's different in the UK. I suspect it's not, though, because the world is pretty connected. We all see what happens here and there and we learn to act similarly. Some of the reason the U.S. is a bunch of politically correct pussies is that we get chastised from other countries and try to please them instead of being ourselves. We (the people) hate that BTW! lol

 

I got the treatment Pink Sugar. I was told they liked me. I was tested and not only passed the test but I told them what they needed to do to fix their current problem; good for them! Meanwhile I thought I was showing them why they could use me on their team. I thought I had the job bagged! Not so! This was before she filed for divorce and if they had given me that job I might still be married.

 

Then again, considering this current job that I have (I know I actually have it, I got my first paycheck today), I never thought it would happen. I figured they would blow me off, dislike something etc. but they persisted and now that I know more about the job, I realize I'm one of the 0.00005% of the people who is right for it. My colleague who found me knew all along and I have so much respect for him!

 

Not thinking this is encouraging for you other than saying the right thing often comes around if you keep looking; but my advice: Don't take any job from a resume hunter. You know, those that look for people whose resumes are getting old so they know are desperate. Insurance sales, investment companies, "shipping clerks" for $1500 per month, and of course the odd assortment of jobs that sound too good to be true. No degree, work from home, basically do nothing and we'll pay you. They scour career builder.

 

I feel for you. I have been there so long! Five years! My wife divorced me for it! It touches no uncertain nerve (sorry for the double negative, it seemed right lol.) I wish you well and yes, the people who lead you on are dicks! They don't get the implications of what they are doing and obviously this happened to you so that's why you are posting this. It is so much more painful than a simple "No." Please don't get discouraged though, hold your head up and you will find a great job!

 

Ken

Edited September 19, 2015 by kenmore

[pink_sugar]

Pink Sugar, you know why they do this. It's because they are pussies.

 

Nobody has the backbone to say it like it is. America has bred a society of people who don't know how to be blunt and speak the truth. This is since my time, it's a recent development but most managers are younger than me now.

 

Gemma, maybe it's different in the UK. I suspect it's not, though, because the world is pretty connected. We all see what happens here and there and we learn to act similarly. Some of the reason the U.S. is a bunch of politically correct pussies is that we get chastised from other countries and try to please them instead of being ourselves. We (the people) hate that BTW! lol

 

I got the treatment Pink Sugar. I was told they liked me. I was tested and not only passed the test but I told them what they needed to do to fix their current problem; good for them! Meanwhile I thought I was showing them why they could use me on their team. I thought I had the job bagged! Not so! This was before she filed for divorce and if they had given me that job I might still be married.

 

Then again, considering this current job that I have (I know I actually have it, I got my first paycheck today), I never thought it would happen. I figured they would blow me off, dislike something etc. but they persisted and now that I know more about the job, I realize I'm one of the 0.00005% of the people who is right for it. My colleague who found me knew all along and I have so much respect for him!

 

Not thinking this is encouraging for you other than saying the right thing often comes around if you keep looking; but my advice: Don't take any job from a resume hunter. You know, those that look for people whose resumes are getting old so they know are desperate. Insurance sales, investment companies, "shipping clerks" for $1500 per month, and of course the odd assortment of jobs that sound too good to be true. No degree, work from home, basically do nothing and we'll pay you. They scour career builder.

 

I feel for you. I have been there so long! Five years! My wife divorced me for it! It touches no uncertain nerve (sorry for the double negative, it seemed right lol.) I wish you well and yes, the people who lead you on are dicks! They don't get the implications of what they are doing and obviously this happened to you so that's why you are posting this. It is so much more painful than a simple "No." Please don't get discouraged though, hold your head up and you will find a great job!

 

Ken

 

Sorry to hear about the difficulties you went through, Kenmore. It took my husband some time before he landed a decent job and it took us relocating to another area with a job market that wasn't so overinundated with resumes. Before that though, my husband went through a lot of financial issues due to the cost of living where we once were and not making enough to get by. He got discouraged by the job market, didn't apply as much and I thought he wasn't trying hard enough. I looked at D many times, but I am glad I didn't as we're in a much better situation now. We still don't make much, hence the reason I'm looking for another job, but we're able to get by and have a little bit of spending money. Looking back, I'm glad we stuck things out and after knowing friends in that area struggling to find work in Silicon Valley, I realized I was too hard on him, even though lack of finances had caused a lot of resentment at the time. I agree with you though. Several years back, employers had no issue saying that they would call you within a specific time frame if you were chosen for the job. Actually, there was once place where I ended up not getting the job, that actually gave me a call to thank me for coming in to interview and said I would be an asset to any employer that hired me. I guess what we were each looking for didn't align or they were looking for different experience, but I really felt better about the situation and not like a single candidate in the job pool. That was really above and beyond and I don't expect that from all employers, but some common consideration goes a long way.

[applej4]

I get that and I do continue to apply, but I still don't understand telling an applicant that they will be brought in to meet so and so, if they don't plan on doing so. What is the point of that? I honestly prefer a simple "we'll give you a call if we decide to move forward" or "we're still deciding, the applicant we hire will receive a phone call and we will inform the rest of the candidates by email". Actually, most of my jobs have been this way. Also, I have gotten two jobs that I followed up with by showing persistence. Some people are just busy and need a little nudge. Following up can only help you, so I don't see why you're so against following up.

 

 

Regardless of the spin you put on it, this isn’t about ME being against follow up – it’s about YOU complaining about getting the runaround (as you’ve stated here and elsewhere). I don’t see where you’ve gotten the runaround. Employers aren’t forcing or even suggesting that you keep calling and emailing to follow up. Yes, they are busy and they don't need nudges from applicants. No one ever got hired solely because they kept following up – they get hired because the employer decides they are right for the job. If you want to keep following up, over and over, fine, but it shows you aren’t putting energy into looking at other opportunities.

 

(I know you're married, but) a good comparison/analogy would be going on a lunch date and the guy says he’d like to take you to dinner sometime and he’ll call you. So you wait for a few days and hear nothing, then you call him, and he says he’ll be in touch. A week or so goes by, and you email him, and get no reply. Then you call him again and he says he’s busy, cutting the call short. You never hear from him again and you complain about being strung along. REALLY? Meanwhile you could have been more open to dating others who really do want to go out with you but you were focusing on that one guy and following up again and again.

 

Again, if the employer wants to offer you the job they will contact you. There’s nothing you can do to make them want to hire you and there’s nothing you can do to hurry them up. I know that’s not what you and other applicants want to hear but it happens to be the truth.

Edited September 19, 2015 by applej4

[kenmore]

Sorry to hear about the difficulties you went through, Kenmore. It took my husband some time before he landed a decent job and it took us relocating to another area with a job market that wasn't so overinundated with resumes. Before that though, my husband went through a lot of financial issues due to the cost of living where we once were and not making enough to get by. He got discouraged by the job market, didn't apply as much and I thought he wasn't trying hard enough. I looked at D many times, but I am glad I didn't as we're in a much better situation now. We still don't make much, hence the reason I'm looking for another job, but we're able to get by and have a little bit of spending money. Looking back, I'm glad we stuck things out and after knowing friends in that area struggling to find work in Silicon Valley, I realized I was too hard on him, even though lack of finances had caused a lot of resentment at the time. I agree with you though. Several years back, employers had no issue saying that they would call you within a specific time frame if you were chosen for the job. Actually, there was once place where I ended up not getting the job, that actually gave me a call to thank me for coming in to interview and said I would be an asset to any employer that hired me. I guess what we were each looking for didn't align or they were looking for different experience, but I really felt better about the situation and not like a single candidate in the job pool. That was really above and beyond and I don't expect that from all employers, but some common consideration goes a long way.

 

Well, I'm also sorry to hear about the difficulties you have been going through Pink sugar. It is possible to get discouraged by the job market. I know, I was. My wife wanted me out there every day looking for work and that is reasonable considering I needed to contribute, but she also expected me to "pull my weight" meaning if I was not drawing a paycheck, I needed to do what I could to make the household work. I settled into a pattern of looking for work a few days per week and doing chores the rest of the time. If something seemed promising like that one job I mentioned, I would spend more time doing chores and hoping to hear from the *ssholes.

 

I agree that people should show consideration. I always do. If someone emails me and I don't need to reply, I'll acknowledge it anyway just so they know I got the email. Same with text. If I was interviewing, I'd let people know where they stand. In that situation I posted above where I helped them fix their problem and thought I had the job almost for sure, I heard nothing so followed up with an email about a week later. He responded with "we're still interviewing and I'll be in touch soon to let you know." That was the last I heard from him. I did try again a week later and was ignored. He took the chicken sh*t way out.

 

I feel some follow-up is a good thing, but it shouldn't be done too much. I agree with applej4 that too much follow-up is embarrassing but I must say that some is appropriate. I think an employer wants to know a candidate is interested in the job enough to try. They have to put in an effort. too much looks desperate though.

 

Keep us posted on how it goes, I wish you good luck!

 

Ken

[pink_sugar]

Well, I'm also sorry to hear about the difficulties you have been going through Pink sugar. It is possible to get discouraged by the job market. I know, I was. My wife wanted me out there every day looking for work and that is reasonable considering I needed to contribute, but she also expected me to "pull my weight" meaning if I was not drawing a paycheck, I needed to do what I could to make the household work. I settled into a pattern of looking for work a few days per week and doing chores the rest of the time. If something seemed promising like that one job I mentioned, I would spend more time doing chores and hoping to hear from the *ssholes.

 

I agree that people should show consideration. I always do. If someone emails me and I don't need to reply, I'll acknowledge it anyway just so they know I got the email. Same with text. If I was interviewing, I'd let people know where they stand. In that situation I posted above where I helped them fix their problem and thought I had the job almost for sure, I heard nothing so followed up with an email about a week later. He responded with "we're still interviewing and I'll be in touch soon to let you know." That was the last I heard from him. I did try again a week later and was ignored. He took the chicken sh*t way out.

 

I feel some follow-up is a good thing, but it shouldn't be done too much. I agree with applej4 that too much follow-up is embarrassing but I must say that some is appropriate. I think an employer wants to know a candidate is interested in the job enough to try. They have to put in an effort. too much looks desperate though.

 

Keep us posted on how it goes, I wish you good luck!

 

Ken

 

I usually email, because I believe in calling you will face more of a runaround...ignored calls, voicemails etc. I mean, who wants to tell a candidate over the phone "sorry we hired someone else". That is rather bizarre though that in your experience the employer couldn't do that. I recently got another rejection, but this time the employer responded within 24-48 hours and said it was a difficult decision for him, but he didn't decide to move forward, he did say that he goes through resumes when new positions open up. So I got a feeling here that this particular position may not have been a fit however well I interviewed. Bummer, but I could accept it and continue on. The first place that had me do hours of interviewing just blew off my follow ups and 3 weeks later sent a very generic email you might sent to someone you decide not to interview. They also signed my name wrong and signed it HR rather than the hiring manager. Stuff like that is what bothers me the most, but in another sense, kind of gives you an idea of the kind of company they are and maybe it was best not to be hired there.

[kenmore]

I usually email, because I believe in calling you will face more of a runaround...ignored calls, voicemails etc. I mean, who wants to tell a candidate over the phone "sorry we hired someone else". That is rather bizarre though that in your experience the employer couldn't do that. I recently got another rejection, but this time the employer responded within 24-48 hours and said it was a difficult decision for him, but he didn't decide to move forward, he did say that he goes through resumes when new positions open up. So I got a feeling here that this particular position may not have been a fit however well I interviewed. Bummer, but I could accept it and continue on. The first place that had me do hours of interviewing just blew off my follow ups and 3 weeks later sent a very generic email you might sent to someone you decide not to interview. They also signed my name wrong and signed it HR rather than the hiring manager. Stuff like that is what bothers me the most, but in another sense, kind of gives you an idea of the kind of company they are and maybe it was best not to be hired there.

 

Yes, I agree, you would not want to be hired there if that's the kind of stuff they do. There can often be a difference (sometimes a big one) between how the HR department and other departments work, so it's hard to be that broad about it, but usually if there is poor morale and sloppy followup, it's company-wide.

 

So how did they get your name wrong...did they call you brown_sugar?

 

Yes, those seemingly small things can get to you. The worst, though, is being ignored. I suppose from their perspective, they get flaky people hiring sometimes too. They get their share of people who show up for interviews in flip-flops, people who don't show up for interviews at all and people who are just not qualified for a job but pretend they are anyway; but that's not a valid reason to treat everyone badly. Sadly though, oftentimes hiring managers get discouraged and do tend to treat everyone the same after awhile. the fault is within them.

 

I will say, however, that emails are easier to ignore. While ignoring phone calls is pretty easy too (especially if they have a receptionist to answer and screen the calls), somehow the "immediacy" of a call makes it more important and despite what both apple and I said, if you keep calling on the phone every other day, eventually they will have to say something to you. It may not be what you want to hear but it will be something. You can email every day and they can ignore them all year long.

 

I hope things pick up and you get some good bites! I'm pulling for you!

 

Ken

[pink_sugar]

Yes, I agree, you would not want to be hired there if that's the kind of stuff they do. There can often be a difference (sometimes a big one) between how the HR department and other departments work, so it's hard to be that broad about it, but usually if there is poor morale and sloppy followup, it's company-wide.

 

So how did they get your name wrong...did they call you brown_sugar?

 

Yes, those seemingly small things can get to you. The worst, though, is being ignored. I suppose from their perspective, they get flaky people hiring sometimes too. They get their share of people who show up for interviews in flip-flops, people who don't show up for interviews at all and people who are just not qualified for a job but pretend they are anyway; but that's not a valid reason to treat everyone badly. Sadly though, oftentimes hiring managers get discouraged and do tend to treat everyone the same after awhile. the fault is within them.

 

I will say, however, that emails are easier to ignore. While ignoring phone calls is pretty easy too (especially if they have a receptionist to answer and screen the calls), somehow the "immediacy" of a call makes it more important and despite what both apple and I said, if you keep calling on the phone every other day, eventually they will have to say something to you. It may not be what you want to hear but it will be something. You can email every day and they can ignore them all year long.

 

I hope things pick up and you get some good bites! I'm pulling for you!

 

Ken

 

I had another position reject me after serious consideration. HOWEVER, the recruiter personally called me to thank me and keep me posted on the status. She said they ended up choosing a candidate that had experience and background in law as the position would work with law firms. Totally understandable and she wished me well in my search. Definitely above and beyond, but it was nice not being treated like a dime a dozen.