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Interview scheduling conflict gone bad
3

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?   

RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

Possibly, especially if you have competition.

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.

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RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

Having notice that a candidate needs to reschedule is good, though just because you gave notice doesn't mean that the people that were to interview you had open schedules.  Also, they might have scheduled more than a single candidate for interviews for that day, and someone else landed the position.

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

(OP)
I was interviewing with the president of the company, so I'm sure he had a busy schedule and might have been annoyed he had to change it for me.  I see your point Kenat about them interpreting that as me not being that interested, but I looked at it from the other side that instead of sticking with the interview I attended a company meeting. I'm sure had I been working for them, they would have preferred I do that!

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

Quote (ischgl99):

instead of sticking with the interview I attended a company meeting. I'm sure had I been working for them, they would have preferred I do that!
I'm sure they would prefer you weren't interviewing at other companies, period...

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

ischgl99

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

Quote:

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 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:
  • have the meeting anyway and send you the minutes
  • reschedule for you just as, apparently, they have for ome one else.

  • 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

    What I've noticed is that if you do not jump on something right away, there are numerous others ready to step in and take it.  There is unbelievable competition for jobs, any job, out there.  Most hiring managers are not going to have the time/inclination to go back and reschedule.  They're just trying to solve an immediate need for the first reasonable-looking candidate.

    "Gorgeous hair is the best revenge."  Ivana Trump

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    PS:
    ".......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

    Perhaps you are seeing how this company does business.  It could be that you got a free glimpse at how these folks treat their employees, without even having to do the interview.

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    (OP)
    The meeting was a conference call and arranged the week before for that afternoon to fit the groups schedule.  The person holding the meeting is in California, I'm on the East Coast, so I did not expect that if the time got changed, it would be scheduled for the morning, which is when the interview was scheduled for.  I hadn't taken the day off yet and planned on scheduling a "doctors visit" for that morning, but the meeting change came in first.  Next time I will make sure I take the time off sooner!  This meeting dealt with several projects I am working on, in addition to a few others, so not attending was not a consideration in my mind.  Since I work from home most of the time, I could still attend even if sick. Meeting minutes are not taken, you take your own notes.

    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.  

    Quote:

    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.

    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

    Quote:

    ....I told him they wouldn't return my calls.
    Sounds to me like some one has been stirring the pot. There is no reason not to return calls.
    I'd keep looking but next time get the priorities in order.

    Quote:

    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.  
    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

    HR are people.

    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
    See FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &
    http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm
    for site rules
     

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    You applied to a job that didn't exist. The people in charge may have initially given consideration that you may be a gamble they are worth taking. When you canceled the interview they decided to pass. They aren't going to bring someone in with the intent of expanding into a new line of business that doesn't appear to be extremely motivated. You played your cards right in protecting your current employment so I wouldn't think too much about it.  

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    (OP)

    Quote:

    Sounds to me like some one has been stirring the pot. There is no reason not to return calls.
    I'd keep looking but next time get the priorities in order.
    Not trying to stir things up, he asked how the interview went and I told him what happened.  He was interested in what I thought about the company because he never heard of them either and has been in the industry for years as well.  And next time I will definitely have my priorities in order!

    Quote:

    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?
    It certainly is looking like that isn't it?
     

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    I was referring to your comment that people weren't returning calls. I assumed you were commenting on this to your co-worker, not that he had anything to do with it.

    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

    (OP)
    That is pretty much what I have been thinking, I choose to reschedule instead of skipping the meeting believing they had enough interest that a minor inconvienence would not be an issue.  Lesson learned is take care of myself first.  Thanks everyone for the feedback.   

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    Be nice to find out if they did talk to someone. If they did it was a mistake on their part. They didn't have any permissions to take up references etc. and the hazards of talking to a candidate's current employer are all too well known and this is just one of the possible outcomes.
    But probably best to let it lie and be more circumspect in future.
     

    JMW
    www.ViscoAnalyser.com

     

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    Permission to take up references?  Say wha?

    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

    Permission to take up references?  Say wha?

    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

    When completing a CV/resume it is usual not to include references.
    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

    A prospective employer asking for a reference from your current employer is of doubtful value anyway as they have a strong motive to lie.

    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
    See FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &
    http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm
    for site rules
     

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    (OP)
    I work in a close knit industry where many of the people know each other, or know someone that knows someone, etc.  This happened several times recently with people I have worked with, either me being asked what I thought of them or hearing about others.  It is entirely possible someone or several people at the target company knows people I work with, or even common vendors.  At first I hadn't thought about that being a cause, but now I'm wondering who they talked to if that is the case.  I imagine I will find out eventually since those things tend to come out in conversation at my company.       

    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

    Quote (ischgl99):

    The interview process is expected to be kept confidential.
    I see no such expectation... a hope and/or desire, yes, but I don't walk into one blindly expecting them to keep it confidential.  I will specifically request it if they ask for references.  Just as I expect the company to do whatever it takes to make their bottom line for the quarter, I expect they will do whatever they deem necessary to determine if the candidate in front of them is viable (valuable?) for the position.

    Dan - Owner
    http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    So many fickle companies and HR personnel these days. One can only guess which of the multitude reasons they may have had for dismissing you from consideration. In a way, be thankful because they sound like a company where you would be expected to kiss boot. Basically, "Our way or the highway" mentality. So many mind games go on these days in the interviewing process that I am always thankful when a game player does not hire me. Also, be thankful that, like me, you did not drive an hour one way for two separate interviews just to be dropped from consideration for who knows what mind-game reason. Much less gas and wear and tear on our vehicle.

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    It appears from an article the other day that interviewers are now very keen on the sort of questions I hate and see no relevance for e.g. you have a 4 minute hourglass and a 3 minute hour glass. How can you measure nine minutes and not take more than nine minutes.
    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

    Not just stupid questions are the fad now.  Be prepared to put up with,

    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

    And credit checks. I personally think it should be illegal for a prospective employer to check a person's credit. For one, it is a hit against that person's credit report score, plus it is an invasion of privacy, and there is no good reason that can be made up to justify it. So why is it allowed?

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    Credit checks are not allowed here in California as of Jan. 1 this year.  What I have run in to though is the 'work-around' with HR types saying that they will use your birthdate and SSN to only do 'Consumer Information Checks', not for a credit check.  Right.

    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

    Quote (tz101):

    For one, it is a hit against that person's credit report score
    This has been discussed before... most credit checks like that do not affect the score at all, and checks made for the purpose of adding credit only affect the score by a few points (like, 5).

    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

    It also leads to people trying to get a job and failing.

    JMW
    www.ViscoAnalyser.com

     

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    Having cash does not automatically mean that you are principled enough NOT to pass on secrets.  Looks to me like a lot of those caught selling secrets to the Chinese back in the day weren't exactly dumpster diving to find a meal.

    "Gorgeous hair is the best revenge."  Ivana Trump

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    I am not an HR type and have no experience in that department, and the same with legal.  My guess is that someone, somewhere decided that credit checks (along with whatever else HR does) would tend to reduce the number of "problem" hires.

    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

    People with financial problems or bad credit can get there for any number of reasons, including many factors not under their direct control.  That is why many states have banned the practice except for specific types of jobs that require handling large amounts of money.  

    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

    One company I know of, started doing credit checks and background checks after one of their employees went postal, and showed up one morning with an AK47 looking for the production manager.
     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

    Then why not give HR the power to eliminate any employee with too much stress at home, like someone suffering through a break-up or getting divorced, or someone with a serious medical condition.  How about firing anyone who looses a parent, child or spouse because they might to postal?

    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

    I am sure we can associate any problem to any parameter if we look hard enough and long enough for just one example of the match.

    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
    See FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &
    http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm
    for site rules
     

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    If they can not hire based on such things we are not that big a step from locking people up before they do something bad.
    I can see that coming.

    JMW
    www.ViscoAnalyser.com

     

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    JMW,
    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

    They become politicians.

    JMW
    www.ViscoAnalyser.com

     

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    It's not necessarily how a person gets into financial straights that matters... as you said, cass, $#!t happens.  But once they're in that position, the need to get out of that position can make them take actions they normally would not.  So yes, I still believe that credit scores have a loose relation to larger issues.

    Dan - Owner
    http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    There has been a rise of the payday check loans in this country and pawn shop business and the "sell your unwanted gold jewellery for cash today!" scams all of which indicates that more and more people, more than ever in the past, are being affected by the economic climate (and idiot governments and the stupid Euro and sub-prime mortgages and QE - good articles on why QE is pushing up oil prices, and every other household cost, though why this should come as a surprise defeats me).
    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

    People aren't worried because they don't have to be. Section 8 housing, food stamp programs, welfare programs, "disability" for those who don't wanna work, these people don't care because they have never had to struggle. They exist on our backs and nothing is making them change their ways. America has so much opportunity but a lot don't care because they can exist the same without any effort. If you don't believe me then goto wal-mart on the day of or the day after the government issues social program checks. A couple of weeks ago there were some less than desirable males in my local wal-mart blatantly trying to pick up some welfare queens. It's almost like a club now where they get their checks and fill their cart to the brim  and carry on like nothing is wrong with what they are doing. It doesn't mean anything to them, they have all they need and are content with with. I hear that things are worse in some ways in Europe, I feel for them then.   

    RE: Interview scheduling conflict gone bad

    Put yourself in some of these people's shoes before making flippant comments. With the massive layoffs and outsourcing the past decade, I wonder how many engineers could end up in similar straits. Yes, there will always be abusers of any system, but do we automatically equate every person who gets government assistance as a lazy dead-beat? That is certainly a broad brush to paint with. Also, I can tell you that it is near impossible to get food stamps in my state. My brother is in his 50's and has never received government assistance, but lost his job last year. He applied for food stamps to help him until he gets back to work and was turned down because he makes too much money. Oh, by the way, he makes a whopping $250 a week on unemployment and scrapes by to pay his rent and for his monthly prescriptions. He is not at Wal Mart on the first of the month gloating with carts full of goods, but just needed some help and could not get it. Take heed lest you think you stand and fall.

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