Job opportunity available but getting sour on it.

Chitownjedi

Hey all!

So I've interviewed 2x at a place for a position that is a upgrade from my current. However, its contract to hire and I was told that they usually make decisions after one interview. Well I've interviewed 2x now, a combined 5 hours, and now I'm being asked to meet with the person who was suppose to make the decision's, BOSS?! (I was told this was the that the 2nd one was the last interview )

Even though that's not a bad thing, I've had to use my time to pursue these as it is, and now I am actually turned off to process and having to find yet another way to get out of work next week to interview.... Should I keep at it? I am really ready to tell them to pursue someone else because I really am getting pissed lol... I don't know if I'm letting my pissoffitness get the best of me or if I should just call of yet again to pursue the next interview... smh.. They deserve to be as meticulous as they need for this, but this process is starting to make me uncomfortable. I am starting to get the feeling that they want me, but they're giving someone else the opportunity to hit a home run so they can choose them instead of me. Any recommendations?

networker050184

Three interviews for a position isn't out of the norm in my experience. Meeting the boss's boss is usually a good thing. I'd hang in there if it is a position you want.

jibbajabba

networker050184 wrote: »

Three interviews for a position isn't out of the norm in my experience.

My last couple of jobs required at least 4-5.

1. Call with agency
2. Technical interview over the phone
3. Technical interview in person
4. Meeting head of department
5. Meeting CTO / CIO
6. Meeting HR

Ok, that was even 6 and what I had to go through the last three times. In one job it took almost three months, in another they did all that within one day. But I agree - it is hard to find excuses to leave on short notice.

Now it is even worse for me. When I used to work in London / UK, most jobs were around the corner so I could always sneak out for a long lunch, but now I am way outside, which means I must either take a day off or call in sick.

NetworkVeteran

Chitownjedi wrote: »

I've had to use my time to pursue these as it is, and now I am actually turned off to process and having to find yet another way to get out of work next week to interview.... Should I keep at it?

Depends on whether you want the job. While everyone I've worked for pulled the trigger after one or two interviews--three is hardly abnormal in this industry. They must like you. All this indicates is your first interview wasn't shock and awe. (If it had been, they typically would have ensured everyone needed to pull the trigger was present for the second interview.)

but they're giving someone else the opportunity to hit a home run so they can choose them instead of me. Any recommendations?

Of course. Until they send you an offer letter, they're giving others opportunities, as you should be.

jibbajabba

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

Of course. Until they send you an offer letter, they're giving others opportunities, as you should be.

Exactly. Its all fair game, you can drop out on the day you start, so they can wait and see too ...

Annoying, but that is just the way it is

vCole

I agree with networker. Three (sometimes more depending on the level of the position) interviews seems the norm. They need to make sure you're a fit for the team, not just the position.

SGIT

Too bad it isn't fair either....What do I mean by that? They hold the candidates to a very high standard. You better look good, clean up, act right, write well on forms, have a resume with no typos, but they can say two interviews or this is the last interview and be outright wrong, they make tons of mistakes, show poor judgement, lie, etc... In many cases I want to stop the interview and make them an offer to replace the current CEO with me for about $300,000 a year, it is obvious I could run the company better. Sorry, hope this rant is allowed. I too am in the interview process. I must say though the interview I had yesterday was with a company that passed in my eyes, two nice, realistic gentlemen, unlike many of the others.

NetworkVeteran

they make tons of mistakes, show poor judgement, lie, etc...

If they lie to me, I will not work for them, and/or I will cease working for them.

Too bad it isn't fair either.... They hold the candidates to a very high standard. You better look good, clean up, act right, write well on forms...

Employment is a two-way street. They must compete for talent just as talent must compete for them.

That's why you see top companies at college job fairs, creating college internship opportunities, creating college scholarship opportunities, etc. That's why you see startups offering free massages, free fitness club memberships, catered lunches, etc. You are free to hold your employer to the same standard they hold you to, or whatever standards fit your fancy--whether that be best salary, high integrity management, most fulfilling work, most enjoyable workplace, or some combination of the aforementioned.

Params7

Interview process like these is mostly a joke. All you can do is just hold your nerves, keep repeating yourself like you would normally do, and just go with the flow, don't overhype it. If you don't get it, their fault on missing out.

Chitownjedi

Good info as always that's why this place rocks.

Do I want the gig? Hrrm.. its a supervisor position, id run my own team.. its a step closer to full out management and that is being touted as possible within the year. It's more money. And room for growth and advancement.

The only thing I got going here is that I got a nice title... and I can sit around all day dicking around, and the only real work I do is software installs because they don't trust help desk. I can study and practice to become a specialist in SCCM because I've been made the lead of the Config Management Console. So even though I'm quite bored, quite underpaid, and typically frustrated that my skills going to waste.. I can and do have the ability to specialize in SCCM.

This position wants me because of my experience with SCCM, but again... I was told that id meet everyone the first interview, turns out the person who mattered was out of office.. then i met him, now he wants me to meet his boss... I've asked for phone interview/Skype/ Off-hours interviewing because they want to interview in afternoons and it usually takes me 1 hour 15 minutes to get to them because of traffic... They say they can work with my schedule, but that only means I can pick the day, but they won't do anything after work hours to alleviate me having to call off. Great opportunity, though, but again, when the staffing agency says "We don't know what is going on, everyone loves you there, great feed back, but the last 10 people we placed were all placed after 1 interview, we don't know why they are doing it this..." That makes me say...hrrrrrrm

vCole

Not sure why everyone complains about multiple interviews. Put yourself in their shoes - do you want to hire the right person the first time? Or have to deal with hiring the wrong person and then stuck with them?

Let's say for the sake of argument: You need to go for a pretty invasive surgery. Would you want that hospital to only interview the surgeon once or just hire him based on his resume? I'd assume not.

So why should you only go through one interview for your job? Obviously a surgeon and IT professional aren't equal, but it's all about finding the right person for the job. If you think multiple interviews are a waste of your time - then maybe you shouldn't be looking for a new/better job.

Chitownjedi

Hey VCole,

Ill say it again because I don't think you read my statements fully. I don't have an issue with them taking as much time as needed and think that they should! I was told that before the process started that I would know after the 1st interview if I was hired... I understood their need for a second, and made it happened, even though I was told before that specifically they'd make their decisions after one interview.. that 1st interview was 3 hours and 25 minutes and I talked to 5 different people. I was not told until the end of the 1st interview that I would need to come back and meet other people.

I was then told my second interview would be my last and they would make the decision then (Since it was out of the norm for them to need more than 1 anyway.) After the 2nd one I was told that they wanted me to come in a 3rd time! My issue is not with multiple interviews, its being told one thing, and having another one play out. I'm sure you can understand that as being a reasonable reason to feel soured about the process versus me having an issue with multiple interviews. If they said that there would be 2-3 interviews from the start, this wouldn't be an issue. But I specifically agreed to pursue the job because of the swiftness in the decision making for the position, if i knew it would be elongated I would have passed... because like you just said... I already have a job. And calling off and missing days is not something I take lightly, especially if I was told 1 thing and the other keeps happening. That's all im saying.

So my issue is trust. If i am told one thing, and another keeps happening, should I just deal with it, and keep pursuing, even though I can't really believe in what they say now? My staffing agency can only say this never happens and they don't know why they are doing this. It does not lead me to confidence.

jmritenour

I have no problems with multiple interviews, but I can definitely see where chitownjedi is coming from. They could at least be somewhat accommodating and give him the option of doing subsequent interviews via skype/phone, or after hours. It sucks to have to burn a bunch of time off from a current job for multiple interviews, not to mention it doesn't sit will with the current employer usually.

Chitownjedi

jmritenour wrote: »

I have no problems with multiple interviews, but I can definitely see where chitownjedi is coming from. They could at least be somewhat accommodating and give him the option of doing subsequent interviews via skype/phone, or after hours. It sucks to have to burn a bunch of time off from a current job for multiple interviews, not to mention it doesn't sit will with the current employer usually.

Yeah man you got it lol...

vCole

My comment wasn't directed at you per say, but the whole mentally. I understand if they said "you'll know after the first interview" I'd be a bit annoyed as well. However, after being on this site for over 5 years now, I see the same type of comments that are in this post over and over again (not just your post) - which is where my comment is coming from. What I said was more of a general statement on multiple interviews mentality rather than a directed statement at you.

datgirl

I can commiserate with the OP, and have also experienced having to do multiple rounds of interviews with various people in the hiring food-chain.

jibbajabba wrote: »

My last couple of jobs required at least 4-5.

1. Call with agency
2. Technical interview over the phone
3. Technical interview in person
4. Meeting head of department
5. Meeting CTO / CIO
6. Meeting HR

Ok, that was even 6 and what I had to go through the last three times. In one job it took almost three months, in another they did all that within one day. But I agree - it is hard to find excuses to leave on short notice.

Now it is even worse for me. When I used to work in London / UK, most jobs were around the corner so I could always sneak out for a long lunch, but now I am way outside, which means I must either take a day off or call in sick.

Chitownjedi

vCole wrote: »

My comment wasn't directed at you per say, but the whole mentally. I understand if they said "you'll know after the first interview" I'd be a bit annoyed as well. However, after being on this site for over 5 years now, I see the same type of comments that are in this post over and over again (not just your post) - which is where my comment is coming from. What I said was more of a general statement on multiple interviews mentality rather than a directed statement at you.

Oh okay, my bad I agree with that

joemysterio

I'm currently in the interview process for a job I applied for back on April 3rd, 3 interviews so far with the third one just today. Still waiting. It's for a tech support/delivery position... I hope I get it! anyway, keep at it, maybe it'll work out!

lsud00d

You just have to address the pro's and con's of the situation. Write them down on a piece of paper, and add "annoying interview process" to the cons.

Now, weigh both sides. Then, make your decision.

tpatt100

All of my jobs have been only one interview and to be honest a couple of them I think I was hired as soon as they talked to me. To be honest if the situation was reversed and I was doing the hiring I would have multiple interviews but only for somebody I found worthy of hiring. I would conduct multiple interviews and make sure I was making an effort to take into account that the person needs to find a way out of work even if it meant scheduling an interview on a Saturday or evening lol.

The reason for multiple interviews in my opinion is to see how the person is over a period of time not just a one time presentation or "their best face". My current job the CIO wanted to interview me after HR and IT did but he couldn't meet with me until 5:30. He knew I was already there for a while and said he had no problem rescheduling. I probably saw this as a test of seeing if I would roll my eyes or check the time on my phone or show I was impatient or something but I said I had no problem and I would go home and take it easy, eat dinner early and come back. I said it would be easier to do it today rather than make arrangements again with my wife to take time off of work to watch our son (I was out of work at the time).

I remember years ago helping interview people who were replacing me after I put my two week notice in and one guy who I liked and was called back for a second interview was a total douche the second time around. My manager was with me and I asked him if he saw any positives and possible negatives to his work record showing him being at the same company for his 10 year career. He glared at me like it was a hostile question but I wanted to see if he could address how he stays motivated or if he tries to address possible issues of not having exposure to different environments. If I went off his first interview I would have recommended him but even my manager thought the second interview went downhill fast after that question lol.

Chitownjedi

tpatt100 wrote: »

All of my jobs have been only one interview and to be honest a couple of them I think I was hired as soon as they talked to me. To be honest if the situation was reversed and I was doing the hiring I would have multiple interviews but only for somebody I found worthy of hiring. I would conduct multiple interviews and make sure I was making an effort to take into account that the person needs to find a way out of work even if it meant scheduling an interview on a Saturday or evening lol.

The reason for multiple interviews in my opinion is to see how the person is over a period of time not just a one time presentation or "their best face". My current job the CIO wanted to interview me after HR and IT did but he couldn't meet with me until 5:30. He knew I was already there for a while and said he had no problem rescheduling. I probably saw this as a test of seeing if I would roll my eyes or check the time on my phone or show I was impatient or something but I said I had no problem and I would go home and take it easy, eat dinner early and come back. I said it would be easier to do it today rather than make arrangements again with my wife to take time off of work to watch our son (I was out of work at the time).

I remember years ago helping interview people who were replacing me after I put my two week notice in and one guy who I liked and was called back for a second interview was a total douche the second time around. My manager was with me and I asked him if he saw any positives and possible negatives to his work record showing him being at the same company for his 10 year career. He glared at me like it was a hostile question but I wanted to see if he could address how he stays motivated or if he tries to address possible issues of not having exposure to different environments. If I went off his first interview I would have recommended him but even my manager thought the second interview went downhill fast after that question lol.

Good stuff

Chitownjedi

*Update*

Weird how the fates work. They want to set up the "Hopefully" final interview for after work hours next week, at a time that doesn't affect my regular work day what so ever. I expressed my concern to the staffing agency, and the company made it happen. That definitely gives me tons more respect for them, the willingness to stay late, and wait for me to come definitely has me pulling kudos from every where possible. Even if i didn't get the position, I have gained a ton more respect for the parties involved. Hopefully by this time next week I'll have good news!!!

thenjduke

Hang in there I had to go through 3 interviews at my current position. I honestly have to say I am glad I did because they are a great company to work for and my coworkers are great and learn a lot from them.

tpatt100

Chitownjedi wrote: »

*Update*

Weird how the fates work. They want to set up the "Hopefully" final interview for after work hours next week, at a time that doesn't affect my regular work day what so ever. I expressed my concern to the staffing agency, and the company made it happen. That definitely gives me tons more respect for them, the willingness to stay late, and wait for me to come definitely has me pulling kudos from every where possible. Even if i didn't get the position, I have gained a ton more respect for the parties involved. Hopefully by this time next week I'll have good news!!!

Yeah companies don't do that for just anybody, sounds good.

coreyb80

Chitownjedi wrote: »

*Update*

Weird how the fates work. They want to set up the "Hopefully" final interview for after work hours next week, at a time that doesn't affect my regular work day what so ever. I expressed my concern to the staffing agency, and the company made it happen. That definitely gives me tons more respect for them, the willingness to stay late, and wait for me to come definitely has me pulling kudos from every where possible. Even if i didn't get the position, I have gained a ton more respect for the parties involved. Hopefully by this time next week I'll have good news!!!

Sounds like you're at the finish line. Just a couple of more steps and you're breaking the tape. We're all pulling for you.

Chitownjedi

TechExams

Yo!

I was offered the position! Desktop Support Senior Team Lead
This transitions into a Help Desk Support Supervisor role after 3 months of training, and my salary conversion.

So I was only a Network Engineer for 6 months. But this seems like a good move. My end goal was to eventually get into management, and now I will supervise my own team of Desktop Admins.(Giving me the type experience to eventually do that if I do.) Got some stuff to iron out before its official. But thanks for the advise guys. Turned out for best.

networker050184

Congrats! Sounds like it will be a good start into a career in management. Good luck!

nosoup4u

Congrats, glad to hear all that hassle paid off!

kurosaki00

Lately around 3 interviews is what Ive seen they do
recruiter/social or HC interview/technical
But ive known places that go for 4-5 interviews too.

coreyb80

Congrats on the new position!

cgrimaldo

Congrats!