Most ridiculous job interviews (red flag?)🚩

[rosemarina]

Sounds like they’ve over-corrected a bit?

 

[Kittypops]

I feel everyone's pain of job applications and interviews, (am looking for a new one)

For @Inforapenny - could their multi-step gruelling process just be a way of them getting their hands on fresh strategic ideas or marketing campaigns for free? You've got yo wonder what's in it for them to have this relentless endurance thing going on?

 

[Moonflower]

I'm so irritated because I'm hearing this more and more. These companies are arrogant and entitled in my opinion. I was trying to work out the interview process for this job I've applied for and it would be months because of the lengthy process. That's not on .

yes agreed, the only reason I stuck with it was because they moved so quickly, if they'd dragged it out I know I'd have lost interest.

I think companies need to be clearer and move quicker. Surely it must be obvious that they risk losing out on good candidates to companies who move quicker if they drag their heels?

 

[Inforapenny]

I've been in the workforce for 30 years now and one day I'm going to write a book about the temp jobs I did back in the 90s and early 00s and the various bizarre interviews I've had over the years. One of the worst recruitment process experiences I ever had was for a local charity, it was so bad. A lot of employers fail to recognise that interviews are a two way process - it's not just about the interviewee impressing them, it's about the company impressing you as well. Nowadays I have a list of 'deal breakers' which is short but immovable and I am much more confident about reading red flags and not pursuing something that I feel would not be a good fit for me. I've even offered feedback to companies on their interview/recruitment process on occasion.

The company I work for now are going down the lines of an increasingly laborious recruitment process and also decided not to disclose the salary at the point where people apply. I'm quite friendly with our HR manager and I've pointed out to him that some of the stuff they've put in place would put me off applying and I'm not sure I would actually get my job if I applied for it now given the level of ridiculous hoop jumping they want. He doesn't entirely disagree but says that they've had such trouble recruiting and made a few quite high level mistakes in the last year that they are trying to be more thorough. I get it for more high level roles that require a certain skill set and experience, but putting PA's and Customer Service people through 3 interviews and a literacy/numeracy test while not disclosing the salary is ridiculous. I wouldn't even agree to go for an interview unless they were prepared to tell me the salary range at least. Then they moan they are having trouble recruiting .

It's a shame as my company is pretty good to work for, but their recruitment processes don't inspire confidence at those initial stages.

This is so insightful and interesting to read.

My question is should I just outright ask them in my initial meeting the salary range?

 

[tortfeasor]

Don’t agree with this approach at all. Sneaky! It’s like they’re playing a game of “how little can we get away with paying someone”

I remember a few applications in the past asking you to put your current salary - and I bet most inflated their answer anyway, so what is the point in asking it - but I disagree with being asked what your expected salary is!

 

[Flowergirl14]

I got one of my previous jobs, whereby the company contacted me via LinkedIn. Can be useful to switch on that you are looking, if you are not in work or do not mind your current employer seeing it!!

 

[tortfeasor]

Thought I'd give an update.
The interview was intense and the interviewer was absolutely lovely to me which I suppose was a positive I ended up sharing loads of strategies of how I currently run things in my current company with the interviewer saying at least 3 or 4 times "oh wow that's a good idea, I'm going to use that myself" (which I was a bit fucked off at).
Got to salary and I said I needed to think about this due to the conversation (we'd just had about the set up of the role etc).
So apparently their talent team are going to email me the salary band for the role.
Haven't heard anything yet. I have an overwhelming gut feeling I'll never hear back.
I should be charging by the hour. I'll invoice them the bill.

Thanks for the update. Can’t say I’m surprised the interviewer said to you she was going to use your ideas. Like another poster remarked they were probably using a “recruitment exercise” as a means to do this.
I think you should invoice them for your time!

 

[tortfeasor]

I work for a public body and we had an email sent round saying that in future when we are looking for new staff that anyone reviewing the applications would not be able to see personal details. Well that's fair enough I thought, they want to eradicate any potential bias regarding sex ethnicity etc

It then went on to say that education would be removed as well as job experience! That sounds like a step too far. If you can't see the person's previous work experience and qualifications then how on earth are you selecting?

Given that ageism is rife and we're all expected to work until we drop these days having experience is the only advantage left to older candidates.

Does anyone else think this is odd? Or is it just me?

I think it’s odd and have come across something similar in the Civil Service where they use those ridiculous competency statements. Considering some jobs are going to be quite specialist, to me it seems daft that you wouldn’t want to assess someone’s actual work experience history to gauge whether they are going to fit the requirements for the work they do.

 

[annanuttall]

Has dodgy MLM/Pyramid Jobs been discussed yet?

 

[Moonflower]

The way the company has set it up is....we don't disclose a salary, we don't want to know your salary but we will ask your salary expectations....sneaky.
I might as well go in with 100k.
Say it's for a job that's 25k then I'll be laughed at.

For this job interview in 2 days time...It's become apparent that the presentation I've got to do is a bit odd. They've asked for 4 things to be included in the presentation but the four things are like a riddle.....words put together.
It's not clear or concise which means I don't think they know what they're looking for.
I didn't think I was stupid but I'm doubting myself now.
I've shown my friend who is in recruitment and she thinks it looks odd. Like they haven't got a clue.

Does it have any relevance to the job you'd be doing?

 

[lemonlime]

I think you've already made up your mind but I agree, that's insane. 4-10 hour test? 6 interviews? Not even disclosing the salary or details? Unless you are applying for a high rank undercover job in SIS, I highly doubt this much nitpicking is required. They either don't know what they want so they hope the candidates will eliminate themselves along the way or they are trying to see who is the most desperate for the position. I think it's shameless.

For my current job I went through a shortlisting, two interviews and a translation test that took about maybe 30 minutes, if that. I had to do another interview because they hired someone instead of me but said person changed their mind and took another job so I went for a final interview to go over the whole thing, basically. What they asked of you is ludicrous.

 

[Sunflower91]

I’ve been helping a friend with her career change and all of my shitty interview experiences have flooded back to me so I thought I’d share .
For most of them I was fresh out of uni trying to get a job in research - I’d interviewed already for a fair amount of retail jobs and been successful in each one of them so wasn’t really prepared for failure or some of the more out there interview styles.


The first interview I got was a grad scheme (wouldn’t recommend these as a rule- generally you still have the same skillet as some of the executive roles but they stick grad infront of it and get to pay you less).One part of it was to present. Two young women came to collect me and hear my presentation. They couldn’t have shown more disinterest before I’d even opened my mouth, one got up and left midway through to collect a parcel. I’m not entirely sure they’d ever done an interview before and got the strong impression my face didn’t fit the place. Never heard from them again.

The next one I had, I arrived at their office to dead silence. It was super awkward, no chitchat and I kind of wish I’d just told them then and there it wouldn’t be for me. This woman too me into the attic room to interview me and it started off as normal interview questions then all of a sudden she barked a mental arithmetic problem at me, I couldn’t hide the shock and panic on my face even though I’m good at maths. Then she asked me who my hero was and I fudged that one (not entirely sure how my hero would impact my research skills…). I was very relieved to not hear form them again.

Worst career mistake I made was accepting a job without meeting the people face to face and seeing the offices with my own eyes and how the MD treated others. On the phone it was all glitter and sparkles but I got there and it was hell

 

[emm]

Which sites are you looking on out of interest @Kittypops? Hope this doesn’t come across as me trying to teach you how to suck eggs but have you been looking on the Reed and Totaljobs sites? Only ask as from experience most ads on those only require you to upload a CV and sometimes a covering letter.
I try and shun applying for jobs with the employer’s own application forms for the very reasons you describe.


I had that very same experience when I applied to do voluntary work. Rubbish charity too as it turned out and completely put me off working in the voluntary sector again.

The charity sector seems particularly bad for this, totally ridiculous.

 

[Moonflower]

Is it 15 minutes to discuss your presentation?

I've just had an email to invite me to an interview for a really interesting job, but unfortunately I accepted a role just before Christmas so I've had to turn it down, gutted. But I've just had to send a really awkward email to my new boss as the money is wrong in my contract. Cross with myself for not picking up on it (part time so pro rata). Life was much easier when I was just having interviews

 

[Scotch Mist]

Yes. I have the experience and I tick all the boxes (well the ones they have given on the job description).
It's one of those jobs you apply for and think yep I suit this and could do it (rather than shit I'll apply and hope for the best).
It's for a director position....which I haven't been before.
Glassdoor give the director role for this company as 77k -109k
I can't really find a comparative role, it's an American company so this makes it harder to know and the 'director' part is a more American/Canadian thing ....my husband (Canadian) said north America is more liberal using the term......see how confusing it is
The role is for a global organisation....if that helps?! And according to Glassdoor they pay better than most competitors.
I need to figure it out as I need a number by Friday.
I'm thinking fuck it just pluck a number out of the air.....

Good luck