I had put up a very brief cover letter on a website and received a response the next day or so from an employer in another state. It just so happened that he would be in town the next day for business. An interview was set for the next day and we met at a restaurant. From the previous experience I posted, I decided that a public arena was best to meet. He wanted coffee and stood in line but came back a few seconds later and said the restaurant didnt have any coffee on the menu. We ended up driving in his car to Dunkin Donuts and then came back to the parking lot of the restaurant where I had my car parked. He then asked me if I am comfortable interviewing in the car (the car was running with A/C). I thought it was a bit stuffy and just a little odd but since we were in a public parking with lots of cars going through the drive-thru, that it was safe enough.
The interview lasted about three hours and I think it would have been longer had I not appeared to be uncomfortable after sitting in that position for such a long time. Much of the interview had nothing to do with the job being offered. We talked about politics and my experience at previous employers (not actual work experience but my interaction with colleagues and some problems I’d had with men in my office), and travel , among other things. He said he liked the fact that I was candid and felt he could open up a little thanks to my openness. He said he felt having a connection with an employee was important, and he felt that I found that to be important as well. He also mentioned how if people in his business knew how he lived, they wouldnt be impressed because he is in a luxury business and his office was in a part of town that many people in the business probably wouldnt approve of (according to him). He kept mentioning how I was interivewing him since he is the one who responded to my ad. Towards the end of the conversation we spoke more at-length about the position details, the fact that his wife would work part-time in the office, and the condition of his office. We negotiated a salary (which he knew I thought was a bit low, but was willing to accept since there was growth opportunity), and he said he is waiting on a contract and should be able to formally offer me the position in a few days regardless of the outcome.
He really seemed genuinely interested in hiring me. When I got out of the car, he asked me about how organized I was and I mentioned that if he saw my home he would know that I am organized . He mentioned again the condition of his office and asked me if I’d be comfortable with the clutter, and I said thats perfectly fine. With that, he said he hopes nobody else hires me within the two or so days he was planning to get back to me. When I left, I felt I had the job, because that is the impression he gave me. He was waiting on a contract yes, but he said that wouldnt affect him offering me the position, but only the duties of my work. About three days later I received an email stating that he will not be offering me the position. I had emailed him prior to that to thank him for meeting me and a few other things but hadnt received a response.
Now my question is, after having a three hour interview and coming out feeling like I had the position but that it was only a matter of formalities before I was sent a ticket to fly-out for the job, why wasnt I offered the position? Does this happen where people are offered jobs and then all of a sudden the employer changes his mind? We had agreed to a trial period of three months so it wasnt a sure thing/serious commitment in the first place, and we both agreed we were comfortable with that. I just dont understand the reasoning for not hiring me. Not because I feel I should have been hired, but only because he gave me the impression that I was. I can speculate all I want and I know I wont come up with the what exactly he was thinking, but perhaps from reading this you can offer some clues? Did I say something I shouldnt have? I dont understand. confused
Munni, where do you find these employers? Who interviews in a car for three hours? From the sounds of it, it wasn't legitimate from the get go. Did he already have a company? Did you research the company first to see if it even existed?
Even if it was legitimate, don't believe anything that is being said until it is put in writing.
don't feel confused it has happened to me too.. and not with small companies.. i had an interview with RIM (Research in Motion) I had a good interview .. and the person taking interview even told me everything about the workplace, showed me around where i will be working, the ppl i would be working with and even the desk i will be using so i come out of interview all happy that i have a job only waiting for an email confirmation from that person
waited 2 days, then i email him myself just to find out that they hired someone else :(
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by MehnazQ: *
Munni, where do you find these employers? Who interviews in a car for three hours (not putting you down, more of a question about the ethics of the prospective employer)? From the sounds of it, it wasn't legitimate from the get go. Did he already have a company? Did you research the company first to see if it even existed?
Even if it was legitimate, don't believe anything that is being said until it is put in writing.
[/QUOTE]
Mehnaz, I posted my resume online. He had to have been looking through resumes to contact me. cwy I have no idea, I also thought it was a bit odd to interview me in the car. Yes I did research the company. It has a web presence and seemed quite professional. Even has a newsletter and everything. Did I mention he had an indian tune on in the car while we were talking? It was on very low, but I never mentioned the music during the interview. Is this strange?
Ansoon, walekum asSalaam, but he was the CEO of the company, not a hiring manager. He said his brother used to own the company but passed it onto him to run. He was in town to expand his business, which is actually based out of my state, but that he runs from another state (as its mostly online). He has two companies though, and said I can get involved in both. confused Sorry to hear that you didnt get the job, I do however believe that things happen for the best. It's just confusing.
Well you can tell that the person lacked professionalism because he interviewed you in the car. WHO interviews in a car? A person who was actually serious about running his company and his employees would have a location for an interview and an agenda.
You are probably better off not working for such a person. Imagine the total lack of professionalism in the work place with this person around.
I have worked for a company where the interview was totally unprofessional, and the company was also run the same way.
Well I remember watching this show in which they set up special cameras and interviewed two ladies. It was basically a set up, girls with hidden cams. THey hired a HOT model applying for a desk job as to an average looking women who had more then what was required. Obviously the model was given a higher salary along with many more options and the other lady was stuck with a big unda. It's all about luck and how you blend into the person who is interviewing you. Seriously...look good and you'll hit the score.
Teen, he infact didnt know I was living in another state when he responded to my ad. He might have interviewed me in his office had I been in the same state, although I am uncertain.
Rockistan, hmm. Well, I dont have model looks, but I did dress appropriately that day. Someone else came upto me and asked me if I had just come from church since I was dressed up on a Sunday morning, just before the other guy arrived. Also, he initially offered me a lower pay, and I had him agree to the lowest I would personally accept (Mash'Allah), which wasnt unreasonable, but was higher than what he offered. You dont have to have model looks to be able to negotiate better pay and benefits. Yes, beautiful people tend to be hired faster than people who arent considered the standard of beauty, but I dont fall into standard beauty category and I still negotiate my pay, so do many people, as they should. Thank you for your suggestion though, I do appreciate it. smile
My concern here is why he held such a long interview and make it seem like I would be hired immediately, to only receive a notice of no hire. I really want to improve if I am the one making the mistake.
· Insist on sticking to the rendezvous point. If coffee is not available, water should do fine.
· Don’t agree to giving interviews in cars. It is not professional and could lead to worse situations.
· Don’t get into subjects that are not relevant to the job.
· Call the company before actually meeting the employer..check with the receptionist if the guy is who he claims to be
· Avoid leaving your home telephone numbers and references on internet.
What’s getting into you woman..I thought you were a lot smarter than this..but hey! I have been wrong in the past j/k Be careful with these adventures
Munni.............. a 3 hours internview in a car???
Girl, try finding a good, professional place, dear. Stay confident.... if you think staying jobless is destroying your confidence than grab any small job but with a good organization. This way, you'd be busy and also working in a professional environment. Dont agree on a car interview again.
Munni, you are a nice girl but why do you do weird things Interview in a car?!? I mean COME ON! Were all the other restaurants closed? Was that the only restaurant offering coffee? A real employer would never interview someone in a parking lot, and that too in a car even if he’s from out of town! There were other restaurants, bookstores etc.
And as far as the impression of you-got-the-job goes, every employer does that. Ofcourse they all give you the impression that you got the job but really decide after you leave. All the inverviews I’ve had, none of them gave me an impression that they didn’t like me. As a matter of fact, I got the jobs where I least expected and thought I didn’t do great. So, that’s just a business trick, they would never give you an negative impression even though you are the worst candidate. Besides, anyone can say anything and then deny it.
Infact it wasnt planned to be in the car. We did drive to another restaurant but there was a long waiting line that morning so thats why he decided to have it in the car. He just didnt seem too thrilled about going back into the restaurant and so I didnt insist. I was just trying to be polite. afsoos
Shikra, I have been to many interviews and most of the time I didnt feel like I had the job when leaving the interview, but this guy did make me feel that way, its like he explicitly stated that I had it. But then I havent been to many interviews in my life, so I guess you are right on that one. I am soooo naiveeee, its unbelievable. sigh
I did not lead the conversation, he did, so I simply answered his queries. Is that not good? I thought sometimes its good to talk about other things because then they get a better perspective on you. And why did he specifically say he hopes nobody else hires me in the next two days while he is waiting word on his contract? Who says that? I dont get people sometimes. afsoos
Nescio, I told my family what happened this time, so no need for removal. grin
Munni, oh chunni munni, I still find it strange to have an interview in a car. I mean I don’t know :-s If I were you, I wouldn’t go for it unless I needed the job really bad. Be careful next time. Don’t get yourself into such strange situations :k:
Munni,
its seems its not uncommon for employers to lead you to believe you will get the job. Like you, I was interviewed and details were discussed as if i was going to get the job. & around here, its typical that the future employer requires you to take a drug test. He even told me that he cannot official hire me until the results were in, but that it was the only thing holding me back. knowing that my report would me clean i assumed i was in, but weeks of trying to get him to tell me anything, he finally told me he couldnt hire me.
my point is, you never know what they are actually thinking. it could be many reasons that they dont tell you. & u should never consider urself to have the job until u actually go for your first day.
Munni in the land of axe murders and chainsaw killers and murderous salesmen at your doorstep..you get into a car?
Munni no job can ever be that important sweetheart…do look..or rather think before you leap! I hate to have anything bad happen to ya…but God does protect the faithful!
Interview in a car?!? I mean COME ON! Were all the other restaurants closed? Was that the only restaurant offering coffee? A real employer would never interview someone in a parking lot, and that too in a car even if he’s from out of town! There were other restaurants, bookstores etc.