Job Hunting

If I’m blogging about a job interviewer’s poor recruiting abilities now, that should be a prime example of why NOT to work for a company.

So, a few weeks into actively seeking new employment, I get a phone call while I’m in the bathtub. I yell like crazy for my husband to pick it up, then motion towards myself. Yes, I took a phone interview while sitting in tepid bath water. It wasn’t my proudest moment, but I’m desperate. On the phone, the interviewer is weird. He makes jokes one moment and is serious the next. At first I’m comfortable with the conversation, then I start thinking he’s a little creepy. But, again, I’m desperate.

I get an interview time after work and drag my husband with me (we carpool). He doesn’t want to sit in the car so he decides to sit in the office lobby—which is really just an extension of one of their offices. The place is very small.

All throughout the interview I’m barely given a chance to respond. The main honcho (same guy that phone-interviewed me) is very full of himself or his company or something. He asks me questions, but doesn’t pause for me to answer them. I’m very confused.

By the end of the interview (which lasts for at least a half-hour) he asks me if I have any questions. I’m getting a little upset at his lack of respect for my end of the conversation and answer no--. To which he instantly cuts in and says “Well… I can see how much you are interested in the job then.” I instantly snap back, “well if you were paying attention, I was asking you questions throughout the interview.”

He seemed impressed that I could stand up for myself.

I was annoyed.

However, my hopes were still high. I might have a chance to redesign the packaging for an entire toy line! Fantastic!

I attempt to inch out the doorway and he accosts me with requirements for benefits and salary. Dammit.

“So, my other question is how much were you looking to make?”

“Ah, you know... right around the industry standard for the area.” Oh-yeah, I did my homework. You better believe it.

“And what is that exactly?” Either he hasn’t done his research or he’s playing dumb.

“Between 40-50 thousand…” I note his reaction, then add, “but I’m flexible.”

“Oh, cause we were hoping to hire in at about mid-thirties…” HA! All that work and he wants me to work for mid-thirties WITHOUT benefits?? He’s on crack. “So, about how much do you make now?” Not only is he cornering me, but he’s being completely rude about it.

“Right around mid-to-upper-thirties.” Jerk.


So I go home and have a chat with my husband. He didn’t like them, but he doesn’t like many males. He’s very territorial. I pace about for a while, weighing the options, and then finally decide to write them a rejection letter—er, phone call—er, email. But I procrastinate—as I usually tend to do when money isn’t involved—and get a phone call the very next week (and email) asking for a second interview.

I reply with this message:

BillyBob,
I appreciate you getting back to me about the position at XXX. I would have contacted you by phone yesterday, but we had a few unexpected guests. Please accept my apologies for not reaching you sooner.

While I would thoroughly enjoy working for a toy company, remodifying thecompany image, and pushing your product into the hands of every prospectingmarket, I don't feel that it would be in my best interests to pursue employment at XXX. I do appreciate the courtesy and hospitality you gave my husband and myself while visiting your office.

Again, please accept my apologies for any delay I may have caused in your search for a new designer. I wish XXX the best of luck with their newimage launch and will look forward too seeing their product in the toy aisle. Hopefully you can give your competitor a run for their money! They've been far too comfortable too long in their industry niche.

Best regards,
Colormist


Barely 6 hours goes by, and I get a reply to my ‘nice & polite’ email. The bastard. Just like he tried to corner me into saying how much I made, now he’s trying to corner me into saying why I turned down the position.


Colormist,
I'm sorry that you feel a career at XXX is not in the cards for you. We were impressed with your technical skills and hoping that you wanted to exercise your creative muscle on our project.

If its not too invasive, I'd like to explore your hesitation. You mentioned that a toy company is your "dream job" and your career ideals seems to be in line with our position, but in the end, if there were other factors, I'd like to understand them better in an effort to more carefully hone our search criteria.

In the case that you felt nervous about personalities or workload, I certain understand, but you didn't strike me as the type to shy away from a challenge. Any further insight would be appreciated.In the end, if staying put or exploring a career with another firm is best for you, we all wish you the best. I just hope to gain some additional understanding out of this encounter.
ThanksBest regards,
BillyBob


WHAT THE HECK?!?! Did he just steal my writing style (and signature sign-off) or is it just my imagination? He SO does not talk like this. I think he’s mocking me. But, being the horribly diplomatic individual that I am, I tell him off in my eloquent diplomatic way. You want the truth?? You can’t handle the truth. You’re an ASS. Leave me alone. Bastard doesn’t even give any of his emails a subject.

BillyBob,
Let's just say that you successfully deterred me away from wanting to dosomething that I've always aspired for. In essence, you 'unsold' working forXXX. I've experienced working in similar environments and it was a veryunhealthy relationship for me. Rather than pursue the position and simplydecide to quit within a month, I felt it would be in both of our best interestsif you chose the candidate that could handle working in your environment.
I hope this was the information you were looking for.
*Colormist


Thank you, thank you. I do believe I just slammed his pushy-salesman ass. If he even tries to reply back, I won’t be able to hold my temper.

And let this be a lesson for you. Don’t ever take the first job offered to you simply because it’s something you’ve dreamed of doing. Leaving a shitty work environment to work at another shitty work environment is NOT a smart career move.