Interviewing Etiquette

Been in my company 22 years now..getting to be a little annoyed in general with the lack of advancement opportunities despite always getting asked to do things above my grade.

Anyway..

Prior to 2020's changes in life I had shadowed another area in my unit. It's a little more work and no extra $ but a great place to get exposure and move up the ladder. The manager is younger but seems very responsive and approachable, as she was to questions I had when 3 slots on the team opened up 2-3 months ago.

When the role was actually posted (3 slots) one of the 2 people I shadowed reached out and sent me the posting link. I got interviewed by him and the manager who were impressed with most every answer I gave and each one mentioned during the interview they were hoping that I'd apply and were thrilled that I had.

Interview was roughly 6 weeks ago. Last week I happened to look at the organizational chart and noticed the number changed. Turns out 2 people were hired for the role 2 weeks prior. I've not heard one single word from anyone.

Maybe I'm being salty..always possible. Nor do I expect or ask for special treatment. But how does one go from being approached to apply, fawned over in the interview to not even getting a followup of any kind and the roles being filled?

 

Two things: Don't take it personally, and I'd start applying outside the company.

Since you have such a good rapport with the manager, take her to lunch and find out the reason. Maybe it was politics, maybe it was a budget issue (differences in salary), maybe they felt the other candidates were a better fit. Again, don't take it as a knock against your skills or performance, because it almost certainly wasn't that. (They were excited to interview you, remember)

Sad to say but the best raises come from changing jobs. I've been at my current position for 6 years and I really love everything about it, but it's also a dead end with no opportunity to move up. It's gonna be real soon when I pull a Billy Joel and wish them best of luck, because I'm movin' out. I'd recommend the same to you. Float some resumes out there, see if a bigger fish bites on it.

 

^this^

From my perspective as a hiring manager there are many times that a person I've asked to interview still didn't get the job. If they did well, but weren't chosen I'll ask them again when an opening comes. One guy was asked back 5 times before he finally got the nod.

That said, I would not wait around on a company. If you want more, time to resume up and start looking elsewhere.

 

So if I understand correctly, they had three vacant positions all the same classification? Two were hired in this classification. Possibly they are taking the remaining vacant FTE, and turning it into a different classification which suits your skill set better? Just pulling @ straws here, but I would have inquired the status of interview way before 6 weeks. Just me.

 

Some companies focus on diversity to the point that selecting a "diverse" candidate results in a higher bonus for the hiring manager. Don't know if this is the case in your situation. If not, there could be any of a number of reasons, each out of your control. All you can do is try again, either with your present or potentially new employer. Keep your chin up.

 

I would be annoyed at not getting the curtesy of being told I did not get the job. It is one more thing to add the list of reasons to start applying to other companies. As for not getting the job, hard to say why and while not being selected always stings, I would not let that alone influence your decisions without having more information on why.

 

Asa whole my company seems to place a lot of weight on this and I appear as a40 something white male... I'm actually Native American but...

The radio silence is what bugs me especially since they clearly made selections

 

Correct re the 3. They did mention that it would be 3-4 weeks before a decision

 

Sounds unprofessional of them to not reach out with a “sorry” email. I work with bozos too

 

Our daughter in law recently interviewed for a job with high expectations. She was told that if the first session was successful, she would be notified of a second interview for final selection. She received an email thanking her for applying but was not selected for the second interview. She was discouraged, but we were proud of her for trying and she told us the experience was very positive and would help her the next time. Well guess what? A week later she gets a phone call and is offered the job without further interview. The world works in mysterious ways sometimes. Good advice in these messages. Keep trying and most importantly, believe in yourself!

 

Sure, this is annoying and rude (in my personal opinion). But if I was the hiring manager I wouldn't want to call back all the candidates that I reject and having the awkward conversation. Hell, even sending the standard rejection email is time consuming.

In the past when I submitted my resume or had a job interview, if I didn't hear back from them via phone call or email within 3 days, I KNOW what the answer was. It was a NO. I take the hint and move on to the next company or job posting.

Like it was said before, do not take it personal. You may be great, but there is always someone better out there.

 

Could be you're not the right age, color or over qualified or anything else. Sometimes these are arranged before the ad goes out. Upper management already knows the gender or race,,, before the first interview.

I've talked to you in person and you come across as a genuine, honest all around nice guy... I'd give you the job

Apply elsewhere and see what happens.

 

Was in a similar boat several years ago. Was applying to a bunch of different places. Had an interview with one place, they seemed interested and I know I was. Said they would be in touch in a few weeks. After 4 weeks I sent a follow up email. She said they were still interviewing and would be in touch soon. Another 2 weeks another follow up, nothing. I think it was about 3 months after the interview that she finally emailed me back all cheerful saying they had found another candidate. I didn't even bother replying to that one haha. Who has time to wait around 3+ months after an interview..

I was pretty salty about it at the time (because I was younger, but also cause I needed a job sooner than later). Anyway it made me realize that people just don't give a shit. And that hiring process in general is kinda f*cd

 

3 months does sounds like a long time no doubt.

What puzzles me is how they talked me up so much and I am not even worth the quick phone call to inform me I'm not the one. Seems one extreme to the other somewhat..or almost like the high school prank where someone asks someone on a date and then it turns out just a bunch of rubbish.

But yes, people just don't seem to care or want to act professional/courteous.

 

As a hiring manager I might call an external candidate to let them know they didn't get the job, but only if they were exceptional and I'd like to see them apply again in the future. Internal candidates all get the "I'm sorry call", and everyone gets an automatically generated "I'm sorry" email.

In the past 20 years I've never had HR say a word to me about diversity hires. In IT white male is pretty much the norm, so you'd think that would be a problem. (between you, me and the anonymous internet I like to hire diversity candidates. There's no such thing as two equal candidates, but if it is close being divers weighs in your favor. )

 

Not sure I would give them a 23rd year. The art of deception is a common denominator among some managers....

 

Another classic example of loyalty having no value. Either way 22 years toiling away for one place I'd be ready for the looney bin or retirement. Loyalty to one place has its disadvantages like your employer knowing you'll never go anywhere else so why promote and compensate such a loyal employee whom they know will never leave? Insurance companies use loyalty to their advantage all the time like when they know a customer is not the type to search for a better rate why should they give you any leverage. Do your skills allow for self employment? Can you either do this as a consultant or take your knowledge and go work for yourself?

 

That's just it, I'm internal. That plus the fact that they encouraged me to apply, the not getting any kind of "no thank you" is the sticking point. Even an email would be something.

I don't mind the work I do and it is a decent place in a lot of ways, but recent years I'm starting to see some of the reasons I've stayed long term getting whittled away at.

 

Yeah, IMO thats unprofessional. I've made that call to candidates I asked to interview to tell them they didn't get the job. Personally I find it uncomfortable, but it's part of the job.

 

Long ago (before getting in this company) I went on a horrific job interview. To wit:

I showed up in my good suit I just bought a few weeks prior, new shoes, hair cut, no earrings etc 10 min early and check in with the receptionist. She seats me and calls down to the interviewer's office. I'm still waiting 25 minutes later when the receptionist comes back surprised and says "oh she said she was coming right away let me walk you down there right now". The interviewer left me standing outside after waving to me for another 10 minutes on a personal phone call about her upcoming weekend girls' trip.

So we're starting basically 30 minutes late but I'm still fine. She opens the door and lets me in the room. She's rocking a spaghetti strap tank top, short shorts, and flip flops. Not a good impression but I'm here for business.

She asks me 5 questions in 40 minutes. Reason being she twice more stopped the interview to take more personal calls re the same weekend getaway, one time waving me out of the room so she could talk.

I'm pretty burned at this point but I grin and bear it. I had about 6 questions specifically about the company, the job, etc. Each question got me a shrug, an "I don't know" or something similar. JFC lady, I don't expect you to know everything but offer to look into it, get back to me, something.

Even after that horror show I at least got a letter in the mail advising me they weren't going forward with me. Honestly I got such a bad impression about the setup from her behaviour I didn't really want to work for them anyways but at least someone gave a shit enough to follow up and close the loop. So yeah the fact that this current situation happens with none of that closure and I have to find out seeing it online is just crap.