Went to a virtual interview for a manager position that I was excited for.

21 Comments

1. AnonymousJune 18,2024 at 11:10AM UTC

   Very frustrating! I hate it when 8nterviewers are allowed to be disengaged, both in attitude and appearance but if candidates are it's counted against us. If they (the employer) already decided who to hire and it's not you, they should cancel the interview. Showing up by NOT "showing up is insulting.

2. AnonymousJune 19,2024 at 1:38PM UTC

   Employers need to realize that they are being interviewed as much as the candidates themselves. If I were treated this way, I would have a lot of questions for the hiring manager during the second interview, if I even chose to accept the invitation. The interview is as much as the company "selling itself" to you as you are impressing it.

3. AnonymousJune 18,2024 at 12:31PM UTC

   Look at it this way. Considering how you were treated in the interview, if they followed up with a second, would you still be as excited about the job as you were? If they offer you the job, would you pause before accepting it? If you accepted it, how long before you start looking for another job? If the hiring manager is this disengaged during the hiring process, they aren't one I would want to work for. Consider it a blessing in disguise.

4. AnonymousJune 18,2024 at 11:30PM UTC

   I agree ?⚡

5. NeAnnaJune 18,2024 at 1:35PM UTC

   This happened to me with an Allstate interview. Hiring manager never showed and they never reached out to reschedule. When I reached out, they rescheduled and it was the MOST HORRIBLE interview to date. The interviewer was inattentive, unkind, unprepared and didn’t seem to like the company much herself.

6. AnonymousJune 18,2024 at 2:29PM UTC

   This happened to me as well. I was absolutely crestfallen. I had prepared so hard for the interview and they kept asking me about random tech stuff that was totally unrelated to my job.I later found out from my recruiter that the first two people the recruiter sent did not meet the hiring manager's standards and that she felt that had soured my interview. In retrospect, I am glad I didn't get a job and have to work with that HM. But dang, it stung to really want something and be denied by a person who didn't even give you a fair shake.(And I found a job a month later, best wishes that you have the same luck!)

7. AnonymousJune 18,2024 at 11:28PM UTC

   Thank you! That's how I felt too, partially it is not meant to be and maybe it's the universe telling me this is not the best place for me at the moment. I'm hoping to land a job on a place where I could grow more ??

8. AnonymousJune 18,2024 at 11:29PM UTC

   Thanks for the advice. You are right, I should not close my doors just yet. And yes, I think I dodged a bullet. ??⚡

9. JJJune 19,2024 at 12:00AM UTC

   It is a tough market but that seems like a lot of red flags! Sounds like a win for you.

10. AnonymousJune 19,2024 at 12:37PM UTC

    Here’s the thing. Your experience is your experience. You can’t change your skills, past roles and the wealth of knowledge you’ve gained along the way because that is solely unique to you. If an interviewer doesn’t look past their predetermined expectations in order to meet you in the interview space with an open mind, that’s on them. You can’t change them. So keep being you, proudly because you have tremendous value, until you find the role and hiring manager where you are the natural fit. That’s likely going to be the place where you’re happy, valued and motivated. It’s hard to not take rejection personally, been there. But sometimes not getting a role or being moved forward in the process is exactly what should happen so you’re free to keep looking for the right role, not just any role.

11. AnonymousJune 19,2024 at 12:58PM UTC

    This is not a reflection on you but on the hiring manager who was checked out, unprofessional and just phoning it in. It sounds like this is the classic "internal candidate already in mind" and still being required to go through the motions of posting the position and interviewing a few external people. Hence the reason the hiring manager brough less than their A game to the table.

12. AnonymousJune 19,2024 at 1:20PM UTC

    Only if we would have the courage to excuse ourselves from those interviews, while it's going on. "I'm sorry, I just don't believe my talents and value would be utilized or appreciated to is maximum potential here. Thank you for your time and all the best in your search."

    Then leave.

13. AnonymousJune 21,2024 at 12:40PM UTC

    I did and it was over 20 years ago. It wasn't acceptable then and it isn't now. ( i had lost my job in a RIF - I needed a job, but not that much)

    When I interview, I give my attention and I expect the same. I have interviewed inside my current company and was treated this way and I stopped the interview then and said, I am sorry, I don't think this will be a good fit for me after all. HR asked along with my boss and I told them what happened. I don't want to work for someone like that.

14. AnonymousJune 19,2024 at 4:27PM UTC

    You clearly dodged a bullet, re-read what you wrote to this forum and you will see the job/manager did not align with what you need and want. Keep moving on and don't let one failed interview get you down. They failed you, you didn't fail them. Next time you get into this type of interview turn it around and give them what they don't ask you about and be sure you ask the questions about how much they value respecting peoples time, managing expectations and experience in the places you have depth. Then you can get excited that you will get the job that is perfect for you! Keep going!

15. AnonymousJune 19,2024 at 4:53PM UTC

    I would email the recruiter and thank them, and also let them know what happened. They may not know that the hiring manager is behaving that way (and yeah, he may have someone in mind, but that’s not an excuse).

    This happened to me while I was searching last year - I was to have a zoom interview with someone who would be a colleague. She emailed me while I was waiting on the zoom to reschedule to later in the day because she didn’t reserve a room to take the call. Then she texted me right before again to push it back again and change it from zoom to phone. And then, she still hadn’t reserved a room, so she took the call in a busy stairwell. She talked at me for ten minutes, then basically hung up before I even got a chance to really speak or ask any questions. I couldn’t even hear half of what she was saying over the peoplemclomping up and down the stairs.

    I was completely ghosted after that interview - didn’t even get a rejection! - but after a few weeks, you can bet I emailed the recruiter and told her everything, and that I was deeply disappointed that an institution that is as respected in the banking world as they are would treat their candidates in such a crappy way. Still didn’t get a response, but I felt like they should know.

16. MichelleJune 21,2024 at 1:20PM UTC

    He obviously didn't know what he was doing.

    A lot of HR people don't. They're disconnected and it's unprofessional and rude and it says a lot about what the culture is.

    Consider yourself lucky, you probably dodged a bullet.

17. SPNN4 SJune 24,2024 at 1:49PM UTC

    Many times the hiring manager and the recruiting manager have different priorities and being on the outside we don't know what's happening internally.

18. SPNN4 SJune 21,2024 at 1:29PM UTC

    First of all that guy was not professional. so agree that you may have dodged a bullet. Second, alot of times the recruiting manager and the hiring manager have different priorities, right now where I work (in the C-suite) there is alot of talk about succession planning, People who are transferring internally, and when posting for a position try not to think about the role but the activity itself and what would that look like - because that specific job might not exist in 2 years - I would encourage you not to give up. Sometimes it's not you but them - the company may not have their structure in place - things change really quickly now a days and so you've just got to keep charging on ahead!

19. AnonymousJune 21,2024 at 1:37PM UTC

    I once had an interview with a VP who was chewing gum. I could tell right away he wasn’t interested in anything I had to say. I feel like they might of had someone in mind already and they just need diversity applications just to check the boxes. Hiring is not a fair and just process, it is tough but keep your chin up and just keep looking. The market is a bit tough right now. I like to use AI to help tweak my resume for each job post to help me get selected for an interview and I avoid jobs that were posted for more than 7 days. Good luck!

20. AnonymousJune 21,2024 at 1:58PM UTC

    I've been in your shoes, on the crappy interview. Take that as a cue that you don't belong there...I'm sorry but hang on tight. the market is tough right now, but something will come thru. Manifest, for yourself, positive job energy and it will come!

21. Kimberly Schuler HallJune 23,2024 at 7:44PM UTC

    Just went through this...he had someone else in mind for the job. I sat down and with in 3 minutes I knew my boss was going to hire her buddy from another sector...even if I was the most qualified. Hurts deep...but try not to take it too personally. I am calling it my time inter view prep for the next real one