We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Misleading and Unfair Interview - Is there any recourse
brassed_off
Posts: 2 Newbie
I shall try to keep this brief and would value any feedback in regard to the situation.
I applied for a position with a large national charity who deals with the welfare of animals. Extensive initial form filling etc, and I was invited to attend an interview and assessment day at there HQ in West Sussex, I live in Leeds.
Drove down the night before, paid out for a B & B in order to be there for 08:50hrs.
4 others Inc myself attended the session. It was to be split into the following areas, Psychometric test, group exercise followed by a one on one with HR and the area chief.
1st test 30 questions - 20mins to complete. Questions that were set were not in anyway relevant to the role and were of the type, true, false or maybe. 3 answers to each question. (at no point was it clearly said that there is or is not a pass mark and failure to attain this would result in instant termination of the day, it was couched that they would assess the results and then take things from there.)
Group exercise to build a paper bridge with 16 sheets of paper, a roll of stick tape and a pair of scissors, strong enough to support a bar of chocolate.
After which there was to be a break then one on one's were to be conducted.
Bottom line, did both exercises then waited for the next part, was called in and told, sorry we aren’t taking this any further, your score in the psychometric test was too low and we feel that this is sufficient not to pursue things any further.
I was under the illusion that an interview could or would include tests, exercises and one on one's in order to gain a balanced overview.
I have looked up many definitions of that word today and they have all more or less said the same thing, interaction between one or more people in order to extract or exchange information and knowledge etc
.......
My gripe is, I have spent a considerable amount of cash which I can ill afford to get to this interview only to be told sorry, not interested, without any opportunity or chance for an actual interview. This was a test that could have been conducted online in a secure environment without the need to spend 12 hrs on the motorway and a 500mile round trip just for the fun of it, and to discover that my bridge designing abilities are excellent.
To add insult to injury, they suggested if I was to go for future positions that required me to do such tests that I should buy and download online samples in order to improve. There’s the door, goodbye .....
I was for once in my life pretty speechless !
Is there any recourse to this as I feel that no professional conduct was accorded in the slightest.
I applied for a position with a large national charity who deals with the welfare of animals. Extensive initial form filling etc, and I was invited to attend an interview and assessment day at there HQ in West Sussex, I live in Leeds.
Drove down the night before, paid out for a B & B in order to be there for 08:50hrs.
4 others Inc myself attended the session. It was to be split into the following areas, Psychometric test, group exercise followed by a one on one with HR and the area chief.
1st test 30 questions - 20mins to complete. Questions that were set were not in anyway relevant to the role and were of the type, true, false or maybe. 3 answers to each question. (at no point was it clearly said that there is or is not a pass mark and failure to attain this would result in instant termination of the day, it was couched that they would assess the results and then take things from there.)
Group exercise to build a paper bridge with 16 sheets of paper, a roll of stick tape and a pair of scissors, strong enough to support a bar of chocolate.
After which there was to be a break then one on one's were to be conducted.
Bottom line, did both exercises then waited for the next part, was called in and told, sorry we aren’t taking this any further, your score in the psychometric test was too low and we feel that this is sufficient not to pursue things any further.
I was under the illusion that an interview could or would include tests, exercises and one on one's in order to gain a balanced overview.
I have looked up many definitions of that word today and they have all more or less said the same thing, interaction between one or more people in order to extract or exchange information and knowledge etc
.......
My gripe is, I have spent a considerable amount of cash which I can ill afford to get to this interview only to be told sorry, not interested, without any opportunity or chance for an actual interview. This was a test that could have been conducted online in a secure environment without the need to spend 12 hrs on the motorway and a 500mile round trip just for the fun of it, and to discover that my bridge designing abilities are excellent.
To add insult to injury, they suggested if I was to go for future positions that required me to do such tests that I should buy and download online samples in order to improve. There’s the door, goodbye .....
I was for once in my life pretty speechless !
Is there any recourse to this as I feel that no professional conduct was accorded in the slightest.
0
Comments
-
Invoice them for your expenses pointing this out.If you haven't got it - please don't flaunt it. TIA.0
-
Sauce for geese and ganders. If I went to an interview and felt that the preliminary tests indicated that the style of the employer was not to my liking, I would feel free to say so and go back homeHi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam0
-
How they run their interviews is upto them and you failed one part of the 3 parts so in their mind there was no need to go any further.
Obviously it is a shame you spent money out on this but I bet next time you get an interview that requires travelling you'll gain a better understanding of what will actually be happening the following day!
Take it with a pinch of salt, learn from the occasion and move on.The Googlewhacker referance is to Dave Gorman and not to my opinion of the search engine!
If I give you advice it is only a view and always always take professional advice before acting!!!
4 people on the ignore list....Bliss!0 -
It's pretty standard testing in graduate level jobs. I even went through these kind of tests to work in a bowling alley's 'restaurant' and for Woolworths.
They must have told you about the psychometric testing. Waterstone's have shelves of books and the internet is brimming with mock tests. The other activity is known for observing a variety of skills [completing the task isn't really the point]: communication; team work; leadership; organisation; how an individual interacts with a group.0 -
I think the point is that the test they failed the OP on could have been done from home!
So not giving them a chance to do the full suite of tests was a complete waste of time.
I'd still invoice them with the issue highlighted as above.If you haven't got it - please don't flaunt it. TIA.0 -
Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »I think the point is that the test they failed the OP on could have been done from home!
So not giving them a chance to do the full suite of tests was a complete waste of time.
I'd still invoice them with the issue highlighted as above.
So? That's just life I'm afraid.The Googlewhacker referance is to Dave Gorman and not to my opinion of the search engine!
If I give you advice it is only a view and always always take professional advice before acting!!!
4 people on the ignore list....Bliss!0 -
It sounds like Fanny Mumbo Jumbo to me. I'd fail, but I'd be well p1ssed off, like the OP is, at the way it's conducted. Their apparent offhand attitude sucks, they're a right shower and the OP's lucky she wasn't the lucky winner of the 4rse-licking skills contest that would seem to pass as an interview these days.
What happened to actually being interviewed about the actual job they've got?
Bunch of c***s. My thoughts are with you OP.0 -
Googlewhacker wrote: »So? That's just life I'm afraid.
Not necessarily - if you don't ask you don't get....
It's worth a stamp and a few well worded sentences.If you haven't got it - please don't flaunt it. TIA.0 -
Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »Not necessarily - if you don't ask you don't get....
It's worth a stamp and a few well worded sentences.
Yes no harm in asking but it should have been questions asked before the interview!The Googlewhacker referance is to Dave Gorman and not to my opinion of the search engine!
If I give you advice it is only a view and always always take professional advice before acting!!!
4 people on the ignore list....Bliss!0 -
Googlewhacker wrote: »Yes no harm in asking but it should have been questions asked before the interview!
I'm sure it wouldn't have been questioned if the person had been allowed to stay for the full suite.
Or the stuff that could have been done at home had been!If you haven't got it - please don't flaunt it. TIA.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.2K Spending & Discounts
- 245.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.4K Life & Family
- 258.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards