Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
(OP)
I sent my resume in to a local company unsolicited and they called very quickly for an interview saying they were planning on looking for someone with my qualifications for a new position. I had to reschedule due to an unexpected meeting time change for exactly the time for the interview that I could not get out of. I gave the company three days notice and the HR manager said they would try and reschedule for the following week and would call me back once she had checked schedules. I left a voicemail and sent an email over the next couple weeks asking when they can reschedule and never heard anything back. Needless to say they are no longer interested in me.
I was a hiring manager in a past position and there were times interviews needed to be changed on my side and I was always flexible with the interviewees since I know things can come up that are unavoidable, so I am a bit confused they would lose interest so quickly. To make it more interesting, I work for a company that is potentially a very large customer to this company, to my knowledge we do not buy anything from them now, and was looking forward to seeing their operation since there is a project where I could recommend their product. I would have thought they would have wanted me in for the interview at least to get some info from me about my company and to show off their company.
After this long winded tale, my question for the hiring managers out there, is having to reschedule an interview really that bad even with several days notice?
I was a hiring manager in a past position and there were times interviews needed to be changed on my side and I was always flexible with the interviewees since I know things can come up that are unavoidable, so I am a bit confused they would lose interest so quickly. To make it more interesting, I work for a company that is potentially a very large customer to this company, to my knowledge we do not buy anything from them now, and was looking forward to seeing their operation since there is a project where I could recommend their product. I would have thought they would have wanted me in for the interview at least to get some info from me about my company and to show off their company.
After this long winded tale, my question for the hiring managers out there, is having to reschedule an interview really that bad even with several days notice?





RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
While not entirely fair (who said life was fair?) the first impression is that you aren't going to go out of your way for the company, so the company may respond in kind. This is especially true if it's a position they don't think they'll have trouble filling.
Plus, who knows what else may have changed since you originally sent in your resume. They may have had budget cuts or other change in plans etc which mean the position is no longer available.
Or as I implied in my first line, perhaps they had someone else scheduled the same day as you, or a day or two after, and hired them?
Similar happened with us, but even worse in that part of the cause of the applicant unavailability was our own HR depts fault for not knowing the difference between 'he's free in the afternoon' and an 8:30 a.m. appointment. However, the guy still didn't get a second chance that I know of as the perception was that he couldn't have been that keen or similar.
Recruiters think they can be picky right now sadly.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
If you had to reschedule a second or third time, I think that would reflect badly on you and excluded you for consideration.
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
They might have found someone else, but the position wasn't advertised yet, and they hadn't even started looking for people, so not sure if that is the case. It could be they decided to postpone hiring, but in any case, you would have thought HR would have at least let me know instead of silence.
Thanks for the feedback.
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
I have never been in your position but your way of thinking makes sense. The fact that you put aside your needs and attended the meeting should be a plus.
What really bugs me is that some HR's think that they can treat people like dirt. Last year I finished a diploma in management and when you hear these things you would think that the authors are writing fairytales. These persons should be the nicest persons in the organisation.
My opinion is that in the end they are just puppets on a string.
I think you should strive to get an answer from them.
Does the company you work for now that you have applied with a potential supplier? I heard of instances where a person applied to work with a sub-contractor. When the the company that this person ws working for got to know they told the sub-contractor that if they accept one of their epmloyees they would stop all business with them.
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
I suspect you really should have taken the one off interview and do nothing to mess up an arranged interview. These can be your one and only chance to make the change.
Your own employer can come up with as many meetings as you like and frankly, so what if you miss one.
So who changed the meeting?
You hadn't booked a day off?
If the meeting changed to suit some one else, who?
Did you really need to go?
If so then why would they not schedule your meeting for when it suits you? If you are important to the meeting and yet not important enough to be consulted about the time but just given a dictat and required to attend, what does this say about your company's attitude to you?
What would have happened if you were sick?
Would they:
Whichever answer you give, this was not a meeting you simply had to go to. Not if you were genuinely looking for a new job.
In the end it really was a choice of who to say no to and you made a choice that probably sent a signal both to the prospective employer and your own.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
".......for the exact time...."
"I work for a company that is potentially a very large customer to this company...."
Any chance your company twigged you were about to attend an interview?
PPS
"...and was looking forward to seeing their operation since there is a project where I could recommend their product."
Don't confuse your objectives. If this was an interview, treat it as such, not a sales call nor a client call.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
The company in question is located near a location I work out often of and it is possible they know some people there or elsewhere in my company and called to check me out. One guy in particular would not waste the chance to throw me under the bus, I have been critical of his work in the past, and for good reason. I would not put anything past my employer, they would ruin an interview in a heartbeat if they could and quite possibly could have told some of our suppliers not to hire from the company, but I would have expected them not to schedule the interview in the first place if that was the case.
No confusion at all, if I liked what I saw enough to work for them, there was a project I could recommend their products for before I left. I talked with a colleague responsible for the project and he was not familiar with the company I was planning on interviewing with and was interested in hearing about their products, that is until I told him they wouldn't return my calls. His response was if they do that to you, will they return my calls when I need service?
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
I'd keep looking but next time get the priorities in order.
You had an interview set.
Assume that at this point everything is still under wraps.
Then something happens. An inappropriate call from the prospective employer?
Then you get an unusual morning meeting exactly scheduled against your interview.
Then the prospective employer doesn't return calls?
Time to check the smellometer. too much for co-incidence maybe?
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
People are different. What one thinks is great, another takes offence at. Like KENAT said, lifes not fair. Get used to it and don't over think it.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
It certainly is looking like that isn't it?
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Of course, this is all speculation.
Plenty of other reasons for the behaviour but I do find it curious that after you have had a good reception to your resume and they are prepared to interview you when they don't have an open vacancy (it happens and it can be a very positive step ahead) but having arranged an interview your meeting is suddenly rescheduled to the exact time of your interview and the company now won't answer your calls.
I just wonder if, in their enthusiasm they didn't make a call to someone at your company (when they shouldn't have) and that person then poisoned the well and arranged for your rescheduled meeting. The "poisoning the well" or giving you a bad review seems a possibility which would explain why the company won't return your calls. It is inconsistent with being so impressed with a resume they'll want to interview even without a vacancy open... and hence ought also to be flexible about the time where possible because they have no time constraints and no other applicants to see.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
But probably best to let it lie and be more circumspect in future.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
As far as I'm aware, there's no limitation for companies (or individuals) to talk to whomever they wish. If they want, they can call up and ask if their janitor is working out for them. I agree that it's a bad idea (almost) all around, but nothing that needs permission...
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
As far as I'm aware, there's no limitation for companies (or individuals) to talk to whomever they wish. If they want, they can call up and ask if their janitor is working out for them. I agree that it's a bad idea (almost) all around, but nothing that needs permission... or am I reading too much into your statement?
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
You give references only when asked and usually this would only be if they contemplate offering you the job.
So I would try not to give references until asked.
I would not wish to give out references until other aspects had been resolved. Plus, I would get to choose the references and they would have to agree to act.
HR surprisingly seems to either want to talk to every man and his dog or to no one.
My last company (after I left so it is hearsay) managed to hire an illegal immigrant who was using a stolen identity and claiming education and experience he did not have.
He got the job, which speaks volumes.
HR plainly had not investigated a single thing from his resume. They only twigged when he failed to appear for work one day and instead they were visited by Border Force or whatever they were called then.
Of course, you can't avoid listing previous and current employers.
But it has to be the height of stupidity to contact the current employer because, as always, you may be fed false information and you risk the employee's position to no advantage.
It is certainly not a good idea before a potential employee is to be interviewed, to ring up his employer and ask them about him.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Also two employers conspiring to restrict your employment options is probably in breach of anti trust type laws in many jurisdictions. I doubt any legal system would take it seriously, but technical it is restriction of trade.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
MacGyver, there is technically nothing wrong about contacting people I may know about me, but it is a bad idea to do so if that is likely to get back to the present employer. The interview process is expected to be kept confidential. The other problem with that is you have no way of knowing if that is an accurate reference or not and a good employer would still interview the person and probe more to find out if what they found out was true or not.
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Or something like that.
This is a fad.
I have no idea if these people have any idea what value questions like this have or what weight they give them. I think they just want to be seen as trendy and up to date on all the latest fads from HR.
Or maybe they are more interested in you for a pub quiz team than doing a useful job.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
personality tests
psychological tests
proficiency tests
criminal background checks (even for non-security jobs)
consumer information checks and
multiple interviews
"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
In order to get a temporary contract job I finally had to give up the information. We'll see what it turns up.
"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
BTW, in many cases a credit score is a very valid check. There's something like 100k+ people in the D.C. area (MD and VA, included) alone that have clearances... those require credit checks. Can't have people passing on state secrets because they were hard up for cash. Poor financial state is also a good indicator in most cases of poor financial maturity... that leads to embezzlement, theft, etc.
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Regards
Pat
See FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &
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RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
We can argue all day long (thx to patprimmer for the "Tin Foil Ahead" warning) but the bottom line is that companies are always seeking to reduce risk and limit liability.
I am sure each of us knows people who have credit issues but are still stellar employees. But I think company legal departments, just like insurance companies, play the odds.
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Equating people with money problems to people who are bad employees came out of the same thought process that established homosexuals as blackmail risks.
"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Luckily the police arrived and carted him away before he could do any damage.
I still wonder if that type of screening can sort out problem employees, or whether it just makes HR feel good.
B.E.
The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
If you really want to cut down on problem hires, test for substance abuse. And make it a hair test, not just a urinalysis.
"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Virtually everyone would have an attribute that genuinely statistically increases their risk of being a problem at some time if we look hard enough. We all have our moments under certain circumstances.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
I can see that coming.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
You mean they cannot do that already?
Whatever happened to certifiably insane?
B.E.
The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
I get agitated by my credit card interest rates but some of these loans are at 4000% percent annual interest.
They are proving a quick way to get worse off for those who are already as badly off as they can be.
I am staggered that there is no regulation.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad