Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Interviews...

I've got a question for y'all.

Do you think that an interview process is not only a chance for the company to get to know you, but for you to get to know the company? And, as such, if you believe it is such, shouldn't that company be trying to make the best impression they can?

Why do I ask this question?

Well, I had an interview yesterday with a bank in town. I had slight trepidation going in, and I wasn't sure why. It just didn't feel...right. I don't normally feel this way about things, so when I get this feeling, it usually proves itself to be correct.

I walked in and told one of the tellers I was here for my appointment with the manager. She went and told him. He proceeds to go behind the teller line, ignoring me entirely, and starts chatting with the employees, leaning on a wall, just completely ignoring that I'm there. I sat for five minutes while he just let me sit...

Then, when he came over, he sprung another interviewer on me, which wasn't a big deal. In the interview, he didn't ask how I was, didn't ask me to tell him a little bit about myself, wouldn't have shaken my hand if I hadn't initiated it, and jumped right in on the reason I was fired from National City.

Now, I understand that's important. It's the big thing standing in the way of another bank job, and I know employers want to know about it. But there's a polite way to do things. He asked me questions, and then didn't wait for me to finish before he started in on another question. When I was answering the questions, he frequently was glancing out his window into the lobby or interrupting me.

The woman who was in the room with us never said anything, didn't ask me any questions, didn't respond with anything but the bare minimum when I asked her a question, and never once smiled. The man behind the desk was a pompous ass, laughing at my old bank AND making strange, hateful asides towards Chase Bank, who I have no association with.

It was generally unprofessional and completely unacceptable. If he were the interviewee, I'd have shown him the door and told him to learn some respect before he tried to apply again.

He failed his half of the interview. Brilliantly.

Why is it that I can only get job offers from sexual predators and assholes who run banks that are highly unprofessional? Does that say something about me?!

I'm taking a day off from job hunting today.

Out

7 comments:

David said...

No, that says something about the state of the economy, and the deplorable state of society.

Viewtiful_Justin said...

True story, sadly.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Ugh. You're completely right, BTW, about a job interview being a two-way street of sorts -- both sides are supposed to learn what they can about the other. Like you said, the guy who interview failed to hold up his end of the bargain.

Anyway, sorry to hear it was such a shitty experience. Fingers (and toes and unmentionables) crossed that something much, much better falls into your lap shortly.

Viewtiful_Justin said...

Thanks!

PepeB said...

In my opinion you are a very sensitive person: You register things other people hardly notice. I think, you can trust your feelings AND it's not your fault when the interviewer behaves (or misbehaves) like he did. When the right job turns up, you will know at once!!!

Argent said...

I think you're right to trust your instincts here - if they can't treat you decently before you join, what are they going to be like when they have you as an employee?

Greg said...

Trust your instincts. Do you want to work in that type of place?