Prepared for and even created a presentation for my dream company only to find out during the interview that the recruiter provided the wrong details about the position.

Anonymous

January 7,2023 at 12:38AM UTC

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

Prepared for and even created a presentation for my dream company only to find out during the interview that the recruiter provided the wrong details about the position. The hiring manager started the interview requesting that I tell her about myself. I did so with tie-in information regarding how my former roles would benefit this position.

I was so prepared that I felt confident only to have the hiring manger following up by describing the role that didn't sound anything like what I submitted. Not only was I caught off guard but I felt like I wasted my time both in terms of preparation and realizing that a chance to interview for this type of company doesn't come by too often.

I tried my best to salvage the situation but by then, it was too late. Shocked and saddened by the turn of events but this isn't the first time I've interviewed for a role only to be caught off guard when the JD didn't match the position. Is anyone facing this problem and what can be done to avoid these scenarios?

Why women love us:

Daily articles on career topics
Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
Advice and support from an authentic community
Events that help you level up in your career
Free membership, always

12 comments

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

12 Comments

Join the conversation

AnonymousJanuary 7,2023 at 2:54AM UTC
Sounds like sloppy recruiting.
Peggie Arvidson * Career Consultant | Adoptee Advocate | RecruiterJanuary 7,2023 at 2:47PM UTC
Wow. that recruiter dropped the ball.
Sometimes this happens when a third-party agency is pitching candidates and they somehow get in the door.
This sucks and I'm sorry it happened. Here's some ideas for moving forward:
* When a recruiter calls and pitches a role - ask a) if they're an agency recruiter or if they are employed by the corporation they're pitching.
* Ask for the Job description -- and then go to the COMPANY website and search for that job opening. If you don't find it, call the recruiter and ask why it's not on the company website (trust me, the company has to post the role - there is no 'secret blackmarket job posting)
* Research the company page on LinkedIn and search "people" for the job title you're applying for. Figure out their backgrounds and where they came from - and how you fit in. Then ask your recruiter why the role is open.
* Finally after your LI research, confirm with the recruiter that the person you surmise is the hiring manager you'll meet with - IS the person you'll meet with.
- Bonus - make sure the recruiter knows the name/s of the people you'll meet with - so that you can research them ahead of your interview - if you can't see alignment with their role/s and the job you're applying for - there's a mix up.
AnonymousJanuary 7,2023 at 10:41PM UTC
I’m sorry that this happened to you and think that you handled it well.
About the only additional thing that is possible is to raise the issue of the different JDs during the interview and obtain clarification.
If the new JD sounds appealing, you have one or both of the following options:
-Pitch yourself for the new JD on the spot.
-Ask if you can be rescheduled to interview for the new JD.
AnonymousJanuary 8,2023 at 4:45PM UTC
It happens all the time. Job descriptions always include "other duties as assigned [by management]," and often, these "other duties" are more a part of the job than the specified duties. That's why I always go in with a lot of research on the company and many questions. Is the "amended" position, as presented by the company, something you would be happy doing? If so, you might follow up with additional questions to explain the discrepancy in the position as presented and the JD. This is a big red flag, regardless of how much you want to work there.
AnonymousJanuary 8,2023 at 9:51PM UTC
Thank you all and I appreciated your advice. While I would still do the 'new' job, it's not really what I'm looking for at this stage in my career. That being said, it's a good salary and if they are still entertaining my candidacy, it could be a good foot in the door with a Fortune 500 company. It may be a moot point as I don't feel I interviewed well due to the wrong info but I need a job so I'm willing to start over if necessary.
Kimberly GrahamJanuary 10,2023 at 6:48PM UTC
If you're still interested in the other job, how about contacting the hiring manager with an email explaining the mix-up and asking for another chance to interview properly?
AnonymousJanuary 10,2023 at 2:09PM UTC
As a hiring manager, I always start the interview going over the position to make sure the candidate is on the same page. If the person you're interviewing with doesn't lead with that, you can always specifically ask for that clarification before you start the interview.
C AllenJanuary 10,2023 at 2:22PM UTC
I always google any information recruiters give me so that I can verify it's correct. Even if they don't provide company details a specific sentence from the JD should result in some hits on google where the job has surely been posted on other sites or even the source company's site!
Jenny Cox, PHRJanuary 10,2023 at 3:09PM UTC
From a Recruiter viewpoint - sometimes hiring managers have a different idea of what they want a specific job or role to do than what the JD actually calls for.
If you haven't, I would recommend that you reach out to the recruiter and have a conversation with them about this. It may not salvage your chances for this position, but it will do a couple things.
1. Make the recruiter aware that there is a discrepancy between what they think this person will be doing and what the hiring manager is telling candidates. A good recruiter will want to talk to the manager to get on the same page.
2. This will demonstrate to the recruiter that you care enough to follow up. That what they described to you was so interesting that you are willing to go the extra mile; and that you feel that you didn't perform as well as you could have in the interview since you were caught off guard.
3. You mention that opportunities to interview don't come often...recruiters can be great allies to have. Even this opportunity doesn't work out (and it still might!) you will stand out to this recruiter and they may think of you the next time a good opportunity does present itself.
Julie EJanuary 10,2023 at 10:54PM UTC
If the position was vastly different than what you applied for I think I would have brought that up in the interview. Maybe they have that role open and there was a disconnect between the recruiter and the hiring manager. If you still want the job you could reach oit
to either the recruiter or the hiring manager and ask. Tell them you’re really interested in that position.
AnonymousJanuary 12,2023 at 3:55PM UTC
OP: I contacted the recruiter and we had a discussion. He apologized stating that was the information the agency was given and was proud of how I handled the situation. I explained what I could offer the company in my thank you note, addressed the different JD from what I was told and blended what I discussed with the new details. There wasn't time during the call to address the updated role but I made sure afterwards. While I'm not sure I would have applied for the position based on the new JD, I believe seeing it through as I need a job.
AnonymousJanuary 12,2023 at 11:06PM UTC
Thank you and I appreciated your advice! Big shock, I didn't get the job but as I alluded to, I'm not surprised. I tried my best but it's hard to circle back to selling yourself when you've completing pitched for the wrong JD. Oh well, onward and upward!