Misleading and Unfair Interview - Is there any recourse

Sambucus_Nigra

Blitz01 wrote: »

And get a nice 'SOD OFF' letter as a reply.

Like or not, its entirely up to the employer how they chose to siphon the candidates out.

As mentioned previously; I'd be more than happy to waste a stamp and a carefully worded letter of complaint with an invoice attached.

AnonymousForObviousReason

I've normally been offered expenses for interviews but admit I turn them down (feels odd) Having said that the most they've cost me is £17, if a hotel was involved I'd expect the company to pay.

My disparaging view about psychometric and behavioural tests comes the fact that I know I can beat them by putting myself in the mindset of the person they are looking for. One director had an eppy when I scored equally highly on all three areas he had holes in for his mangers (well he left the chart on the wall), he was particularly upset that I had high teamwork skills - he came out with the tirade of "Team working skills? You're a f'in sociopath ... your own team maybe but you're a A***h*** to everyone else".

dickydonkin

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

sorry but which employer pays for you to attend an interview/assessment day?

Sorry, but Sunderland City Council do - as do many further and higher education establishments. I know for a fact as I have received claim forms following an interview, however, I never bothered as they were all relatively local and it just was not worth the hassle.

The OP's situation is a different matter of course.

It certainly is worth the price of a stamp to try and get something back. As we say up here, 'A shy bairn gets nowt'!

Uncertain

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

As mentioned previously; I'd be more than happy to waste a stamp and a carefully worded letter of complaint with an invoice attached.

I agree.

Unless it is made very clear in advance that expenses will not be paid then I think it is perfectly reasonable to expect that they will be. A firm letter with an implied threat of publicity and, if necessary legal action, should do the trick.

elisebutt65

I've always been paid travel expenses for interviews, but then I have also asked before I attend whether they will or not. Not just leave it until the day.

When I worked in HR we always used to pay out for mileage or 2nd class train fares.

GothicStirling

Jobs with Historic Scotland are in such high demand, people from outside the area with pay the costs themselves. My sister wants the experience to help her get onto a MA at St Andrews University, and a career with Historic Scotland. She'll happily forfeit the expenses.

Look at charities like The National Trust For Scotland. They run their most prestigious sites on volunteers. People want the jobs so much, they work for free.

GothicStirling

Uncertain wrote: »

I agree.

Unless it is made very clear in advance that expenses will not be paid then I think it is perfectly reasonable to expect that they will be. A firm letter with an implied threat of publicity and, if necessary legal action, should do the trick.

Nice way to blow any future chance of employment with the company or its affiliates.

nzmegs

You only had a 25% chance of getting the job whether you lasted the whole day or not. Would you ask for your expenses to be paid if you had been there the whole day and still not got the job. I think they were just not wanting to waste your time which is actually the best thing to do. Why put you through the interview if they have already made up their mind?

Jeff_Bridges_hair

To be fair the only time i have seen a job with any expenses paid are for ones on the rail sector and even then only for travel on that TOCs services..

never come accross it before.. I find it very odd. If your looking for work outside yoru area then i dont see any reason why you shouldnt pay for it yourself. i know we dont pay for any expenses when we advertise

KiKi

Whilst the company can recruit in any way they like (which isn't discriminatory) to say no to someone on the basis of a psychometric personality test is appalling practice. They should never be used alone to recruit.

However, if the psychometric test was a mathematical, verbal reasoning or analysis one then it's fair enough; you have to have the basic skills required. If those results combined with the group exercise (where they were most likely measuring teamwork, communication and possibly leadership attributes) were poor, and if they were all key skills which were critical to the job, then I can see that they may have made a good decision.

Psychometric tests are only as good as the people administering them. They are not 'rubbish' or 'useless'. They require a certain skill to complete, yes, but no more than interviewing. People who are very capable for certain jobs fail interviews all the time because it's a skill in itself. Which is why you should always combine recruitment techniques and not rely on any one method.

I wouldn't be invoicing a charity for the expenses. People travel for interviews all the time.

Best of luck with your job hunting, OP.
KiKi