Big disappointment

Saturnalia

I have been doing short-term temp work on reception at a company on and off for 2 years.

Last Thursday one of the permanent receptionists called me and said she was leaving and did I want to be put forward for the job? I jumped at it. She said the crew I worked with all thought I was good at the job, liked me and would be happy for me to work there, given that I already knew the job.

I was under the impression HR would contact me but when it got to Thursday with no news I called the company and spoke to the other receptionist who was staying. She said they had already interviewed and the new person was starting this Monday.

I'm gutted. I've never been told my work wasn't up to scratch so to find out this way has really shaken me. I've been hired back time and again over 2 years so I can't understand why I wasn't good enough for the permanent role?

They have said they will call me again if they need a temp but how humiliating is that? I'm going to be sitting on the reception desk with everyone walking past knowing I wanted the perm job and failed. Plus I'll be working beside the person who was good enough to be picked over me. Which I can do, I'm professional, and they have done nothing wrong to me, but it'll be painful for me.

I've no idea what I did wrong. I've never been told my work wasn't good enough, so to find out this way has been like a kick in the guts.

I wondered if they didn't want me as I am with an agency and they would have to pay the agency's fees, but the last receptionist was hired through my agency and the new one is coming from a different agency. So it is clearly not that.

I'm just gutted. I like working at that company and really wanted the job and I can't understand how I wasn't even good enough for an interview after all this temp work for them with no complaints?

BitterAndTwisted

What you did wrong was to not get on the phone to HR immediately after that conversation and impress upon them how keen you were to be considered for the job. How long did you just sit there waiting for them to offer you the job or invite you for an interview?

Funky_Bold_Ribena

The receptionist wasn't in a position to recruit - so yes you should have got straight onto HR to find out if the position was available. Or straight onto the hiring manager to ask. Or put your CV straight onto both of their desks as soon as you heard.

If you don't apply how can they consider you?

Evilm

Saturnalia wrote: »

I'm gutted. I've never been told my work wasn't up to scratch so to find out this way has really shaken me. I've been hired back time and again over 2 years so I can't understand why I wasn't good enough for the permanent role?

They have said they will call me again if they need a temp but how humiliating is that? I'm going to be sitting on the reception desk with everyone walking past knowing I wanted the perm job and failed. Plus I'll be working beside the person who was good enough to be picked over me. Which I can do, I'm professional, and they have done nothing wrong to me, but it'll be painful for me.

I've no idea what I did wrong. I've never been told my work wasn't good enough, so to find out this way has been like a kick in the guts.

I wondered if they didn't want me as I am with an agency and they would have to pay the agency's fees, but the last receptionist was hired through my agency and the new one is coming from a different agency. So it is clearly not that.

I'm just gutted. I like working at that company and really wanted the job and I can't understand how I wasn't even good enough for an interview after all this temp work for them with no complaints?

You are assuming something that you don't know: That the reason was that YOU aren't good enough.

That's not necessarily the case. It may just be that someone preferred the other person for the role due to anything from wider experience than you to just liked how they looked. It might even be that the person making the decisions knew this other person more and had worked with them in the past.

You aren't being told "Your work isn't good enough". If they'd refused to have you as an agency worker again you'd be told that but that isn't the case here.

Its also only 'humiliating' if you let it me and effectively sulk about it. Accept you didn't get it and move on. At the end of the day its what you make it.

You can ask for feedback and ask why you weren't chosen for an interview etc. I suspect that they will tell you there is nothing wrong with you but that they felt the person who was employed fitted the role better.

Saturnalia

I understand your points, but it all happened a bit differently.

When the leaving receptionist called, she told me HR were aware I wanted permanent work within the company and they were enthusiastic about hiring me. HR had asked her for my number and she had called me to ask my permission to give it to them.

About 6 months ago the office assistant left and as I wasn't working there at the time it happened, I missed the boat on applying to replace her. So since then I'd been loud and clear that I wanted to know as soon as a permanent role I might fit became available.

I asked during this call if HR wanted a CV etc, I was told no need and they would be calling me in the next couple of days. But I sent a CV and covering letter e-mail anyway, on the Thursday evening so they would have it for the Friday morning.

So I did make sure my CV was on the right desk and I did make it clear I was keen to be considered for the job. But I was given the impression it was a done deal and this call would be a "when can you start?" conversation.

So after all this, to not even get interviewed... I haven't a clue and am so shocked and upset with it all.

aliasojo

Saturnalia wrote: »

So after all this, to not even get interviewed... I haven't a clue and am so shocked and upset with it all.

Ask.

Surely you can ask for feedback and if there was any specific reason you weren't asked for interview.

Saturnalia

aliasojo wrote: »

Ask.

Surely you can ask for feedback and if there was any specific reason you weren't asked for interview.

I will. Obviously something on my CV put them off and it would help me to know what that is.

Sigh. This company gives me most of my temp work and I can't afford to not go back, but now everyone there knows I'm a failure and I'm going to have to sit there feeling utterly humiliated, on the next desk to the person who was chosen. Yay me.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

People sometimes don't get jobs - it happens. I'd try and deal with it if I were you.

Then get some feedback on what you need to do next time in order to get the job.

aliasojo

Saturnalia wrote: »

Sigh. This company gives me most of my temp work and I can't afford to not go back, but now everyone there knows I'm a failure and I'm going to have to sit there feeling utterly humiliated, on the next desk to the person who was chosen. Yay me.

I think your emotions are running high (understandably) but try to look at it from a more detached pov.

No point in beating yourself up until you find out what the issue is (if any).

Perhaps interviews were restricted in number and the other applicants had *something* on their cv that yours did not. It could be as simple as that.

Find out first (asap) before you blow all this up in your head.

TrickyWicky

Sounds to me like the receptionist who offered to put you forward was actually trying to deter you from applying and being considered. You fell for it hook line and sinker

I don't think the company even knew you were interested to be honest.

Annisele

Saturnalia wrote: »

This company gives me most of my temp work and I can't afford to not go back, but now everyone there knows I'm a failure and I'm going to have to sit there feeling utterly humiliated, on the next desk to the person who was chosen.

I'm sorry, but I think that's a ridiculous over-reaction.

Your colleagues are not going to think you're a failure. If you weren't any good at your job, you wouldn't have been asked back as a temp.

Where I work, most people (including me) have applied for and failed to get promotions, transfers, sideways moves etc. That's perfectly normal, and anybody who thinks failure to get a promotion/permanent role makes the applicant a failure is just plain wrong.

How big is the company you're working for? And is there any possibility that they're wanting *two* new people?