Time wasting interviews

magenta22

More of a rant than a question.

I applied for a maternity cover role quite a few weeks back and last week was asked to attend an interview.

I managed to arrange to leave work early that day so that I could attend the interview. Met with the girl who is going on maternity leave who was very obviously pregnant.

Interview was going well, very informal and she said that they had 39 applications which they narrowed down to 5 for interview and that my CV was 'outstanding' and I had all the experience that they were looking for.

The she proceeded to tell me that she was going on maternity leave in two weeks time! I had already put on my application that my notice is 4 weeks so they were asking if this was a definate 4 weeks - which yes it is and would I be able to take a day off to do a day handover with them. For that question I was honest and said that I would try my best if I was offered the role.

Yesterday they emailed me to say that I didn't get the job, I asked for feedback and it was because I have a 4 week notice and they need someone to join the team sooner so that they can have a handover beforehand.

So now to my rant....... Firstly why did they leave it until 2 weeks before the person was going on maternity leave to hold interviews, the job was advertised before which would have given plently of time even with the 4 week notice to have a good handover of the role.

and then why........ if you have someone who has clearly put that they have a 4 week notice in their current role (which is also mat leave cover!) do you invite them in for interview when you need someone to join the following week?

I find it so infuriating, it's the time wasted for me, having to research the company beforehand - to arrange for the time off (which I am sure my current company has suspiscions that I am looking for something else -although I have told them about not being honest with me in the interview and I am always saying that I have nothing to do, so they can't really be too surprised!).

Then there is the whole thing of you want that job, it was actually an almost perfect one.

Why do companies do that?

scheming_gypsy

even though your leave is four weeks you might:
a - be able to negotiate leaving sooner
b - have holidays that you can take as part of your leave

an9i77

Agree that this is bad behaviour on the part of the employeer They probably left things to the last minute and didn't think things through. They probably interviewed you thinking that if you were the outstanding candidate by miles they would find a way round the problem, eg you take a day's holiday to do a handover when the pregnant lady is leaving, but perhaps someone else with a shorter notice period was just as good, or almost as good as you, so they decided to take them on. Perhaps it is easier for them to give this as the only reason for feedback rather than comment on your actual interview performance? Who knows. But this is shoddy practice, unfortunately as the labour market is so tight atm employers can get away with doing this sort of thing and everyone is so desperate for work that no one seems to care.

scheming_gypsy

They might not have left it to the last minute but the original candiate dropped out with two weeks to spare.

magenta22

No, these were the first interviews, she actually said that she had left it a bit late to do them!

CCFC_80

I agree Magenta22, it's frustrating and bad planning by the company concerned. As soon as anyone hands in their notice then the company should begin to start recruiting from that 1st day.It looks as if they left it very late to start interviewing.

Any company has to appreciate that when interviewing candidates it is the norm for the majority of candidates in employment to give 1 months notice.

Mistral001

Often these jobs are filled by people who used to do the particular job, but left to bring up children or retire early. They are immediately available. In the public sector these jobs were usably filled by ringing around to see who was available. Now they cannot do that and must go through the process of having interviews.

Consider writing a letter of complaint. It is unlikely to get you this particular job, but they might keep you in mnd for the future.

Andy_L

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

even though your leave is four weeks you might:
a - be able to negotiate leaving sooner
b - have holidays that you can take as part of your leave

or
c - if you're that good they may be able to manage short handed for the 2 weeks

Andy_L

Mistral001 wrote: »

Consider writing a letter of complaint. It is unlikely to get you this particular job, but they might keep you in mnd for the future.

But not in a good way :rotfl::rotfl:

heretolearn_2

Consider writing a letter of complaint. It is unlikely to get you this particular job, but they might keep you in mnd for the future.

yes...as someone to avoid!

Spendless

Tell me about it. I went to one last year advertised as 'we have a number of part-time positions in x' (an area where I have a lot of experience). Went to the interview and when I (not the interviewer) asked how many positions there were because it was towards the end of my interview and it hadn't been brought up. I was then informed it was a job-share. 1 person working 9-1 the other 1-4 and to cover f-time for hols and sickness. I wouldn't apply for a job that was 1-4 as most of my wages would go on childcare and my reasons for working p-time are valid 24/7 365 days (children, hubby working away), otherwise I would work f-time. They don't dissappear just cos someone is off sick with a tummy bug. I asked how much notice I would get to cover f-time and got told in the event of sickness none. At that point I asked them how they expected me to find childcare for Primary school aged children with no notice? When they rang me to tell me I hadn't got the job I told them I wouldn't have bothered applying if they'd made it clear what the job was in the first place. I doubt they'll ever look at an application of mine again. :rotfl: but I live in a large town and it's not often that you come across the same employer twice.

There was also the time when I turned up and the first question I was asked was about SAGE which I don't have. I pointed out that this hadn't been on the job advert, they insisted it had...until the girl that placed the advert admitted that she hadn't put it on.

Makes you wonder why these are the people in employment!