Constant Contact from Employer

GuruOnAMountain

I was offered a job about three months ago from a graduate employer. They called when I got the job offer to talk me through the rest of the process which was fine.

I then had another call about a fortnight later to check I was working my way through all the things they'd asked me to do (eg. additional assessments before the job offer moved from Conditional to an Unconditional). Again, that was fine.

Now, however, they want to have 'check-in' phone calls every couple of weeks and I now have them from two ends (the recruitment team and also the team for the geographical area I've been assigned). These calls are, quite frankly, a huge waste of time. They basically just ask me how I'm doing, ask me if I'm looking forward to starting and ask me if I have any questions. Not only are they a waste of time but they can be quite awkward as well when I have to say the same things every call eg. I'm fine and no, I don't have any questions!

It is really difficult to fit these calls in as I work and I've explained this to them but they don't care and insist on making them. I've still got another 7 months before I start the job and so I really don't want to have to keep fielding these calls every few weeks for another 7 months!

I tried to politely email them to say that I really struggle to fit the calls into my schedule and that communicating by email is much easier as I can reply in my own time outside of work. I also said that I really didn't have an queries or concerns to talk over and so I was happy for them to expend their energies on people who, perhaps, needed more support. Basically, this was my polite attempt at telling them to stop phoning me constantly! I had a reply saying that they HAD to phone me to check I was OK and when could I fit them in before Christmas. :mad:

What do people think? Is it wrong for a company to expect you to keep taking calls off them every few weeks months and months before you start the job with them? Should I be more assertive and state clearly that I'm finding the amount of contact very stifling? I'm usually a complete walkover at work and it has never worked out well for me in the past so part of me feels I should start this job as a strong and assertive person and lay down the law from the start but the other part of me is scared about losing the job if I do.

engineer_amy

I think its an unusual situation (for most) to have such a long period between interview/offer and starting, most people only have a month or two in between. It could be because of the long wait that they are keeping in contact, they don't want you to decide to take another job and don't want to go through the recruitment process again, wasting more time and money.
I would look at it positively, they are being proactive, they want you as an employee and are staying in contact.
a phone call every fortnight is a bit excessive though, especially with another 7 months to go. They should respect your wishes and drop you an email from time to time and maybe only a follow up call every 2 months.
If they are insisting on speaking with you before Christmas, I would give them a time and date that suits you, and tell them you will call them, maybe on your lunch break, that wont interrupt your current job.

DCFC79

First of all don't keep on answering the phone from them. You cant be expected to pick up the phone every time they call. I agree with Engineer Amy in that a phone call every fortnight is excessive and communication via email would be appropriate.

GuruOnAMountain

engineer_amy wrote: »

I think its an unusual situation (for most) to have such a long period between interview/offer and starting, most people only have a month or two in between. It could be because of the long wait that they are keeping in contact, they don't want you to decide to take another job and don't want to go through the recruitment process again, wasting more time and money.
I would look at it positively, they are being proactive, they want you as an employee and are staying in contact.
a phone call every fortnight is a bit excessive though, especially with another 7 months to go. They should respect your wishes and drop you an email from time to time and maybe only a follow up call every 2 months.
If they are insisting on speaking with you before Christmas, I would give them a time and date that suits you, and tell them you will call them, maybe on your lunch break, that wont interrupt your current job.

I think it probably is the long lead in time between offer and job that is keeping them in contact but I had to sign a contract within two weeks of the offer saying that I was accepting the job and that I was unable to leave the process from that point on unless I bought myself out at a cost of £4000. So they do really know that they have me on the hook now and I'm stuck seeing it through and, if I don't, they wont financially lose out themselves.

The problem with fitting it into work hours is that I work at a college giving a blind student support and so I don't get a designated lunch break but stay with the student during lunch. The dining hall is really noisy so if I were to take a call, I'd need to leave and go outside, leaving the student alone. I don't really feel this is right or fair considering the college is paying me to be with him and not to take calls. Also, if there were to be some sort of emergency like a fire and my student was stuck inside, unable to see to escape and I was outside taking a call and couldn't get to him for all the people leaving the building, then that would be awful. I know that situation is unlikely but I still don't feel it is right for me to abandon the student to take an unnecessary call, in any case.

agrinnall

Do you know that it is them calling before you answer (i.e. do they have called ID that you can recognise)? If so I'd simply put the call to voicemail if you're not in a position to answer at the time. A bit more difficult if it comes through without caller ID. Could you suggest to them that you reverse the situation so that you contact them on a regular basis at your convenience?