Posted on 08/29/2005 by Still Puzzled
Viewed: 1380 times
For years I have been trying to get into a local Govt Agency that supports computers throughout the state.
For months I sent resumes to each and every job posting they listed and the last one was a pretty interesting network admin job.
A week later on a Thursday I received a call from the HR department of the agency and the HR person asked could I interview THE NEXT DAY at 4:30 in the afternoon.
I repeated "4:30 in the afternoon....on a FRIDAY?"
Yes! She replied, "That is the only time available!"
Since I REALLY wanted the job I agreed to the time and that afternoon I had my suit and shirt pressed and arranged to leave work early for a "personal matter".
At 4:30 I arrived and waited for 15 minutes when I was taken to the IT directors office. He apologized for the late interview time and said that the agencies schedule was very busy and they had to "grab time" when they could.
So, he began telling me everything the agency did and the stuff he was involved in...never once asking me what I did or my experience. I felt like I was listening to a commercial! After a 30 minute spiel he asked "Do you have any questions?" I replied, "This all sounds very interesting and I would be interested in working here, do you have any questions about my qualifications or background that I can answer?"
He replied "Well, you wouldn't be here if you weren't qualified! Lets go see the computer room!" He then took me through their computer room and we both walked out to the parking lot and he got in his car and left.
I wrote a follow up courtesy letter but was not surprised when I received an official "polite" rejection letter a month later.
What a waste of time that was! I was simply called up to listen to someone talk about how interesting their job was and here was a neat computer room!
POST A COMMENTsotia(09/01/2005)
A quota sounds about right, but I can't figure out why they bothered to show you the computer room? Unless the guys just wanted to show off for the sake of showing off...
Still Puzzled(09/01/2005)
I think he was just trying to find an excuse to end the interview and used that as a ruse to walk out to the parking lot and leave. We walked through the computer room, he gave me a quick tour and then we walked out to the parking lot FROM the computer room side door and he left...
c- (08/31/2005)
You were part of his quota system. Most people who work for a local gov agency discover that every now and then they are invited to help meet an interviewer's quota. He can show at least on paper that everyone had a fair chance - not. In reviewing your situation I would say he had the next candidate picked from the start or the next future employee had been picked for him. Sorry for the inconvenience but the interview can still work for you.Don't give up. Once you are hired you can go on interviews on office time and play their game.
Still Puzzled (09/01/2005)
Yeah, I pretty much came to the same conclusion you did. I really had a feeling that was going on when they originally called me but I decided to take a gamble. Oh well, patience is my middle name....
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