I applied for an internal position.

Anonymous

March 14,2023 at 5:19AM UTC

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I applied for an internal position. I had an initial screening interview with the recruiter who said she was advancing me to the next round and that someone would call me to schedule. When I didnt get a call after a week had passed, I reached out to the recruiter who said she would get back to me. Today she called to say I was not being considered because I didnt live on the east coast. The job requisition stated it was remote, which I pointed out to the recruiter. The recruiter agreed and said the hiring manager insisted on wanting someone who lived on the east coast. She said she's going to request that moving forward that job requisitions should state if there is a geographical requirement. She said I could contact the hiring manager. I told her I would respect the hiring manager's decision. A co-worker said this is wrong and that I should complain to HR. I disagree but would appreciate your thoughts.

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AnonymousMarch 14,2023 at 5:50AM UTC
I would take this conversation they are moving on from your candidacy and not question the details.
It may or may not be why they are continuing their search. They may not let you know and don't want to give the actual reason.
AnonymousMarch 15,2023 at 4:16AM UTC
That IS the reason they are not considering me. My manager spoke directly with the hiring manager and what he told her aligns with what the recruiter told me.
AnonymousMarch 15,2023 at 4:17PM UTC
That is the reason they told you. Doesn't mean that is the real reason that are not considering you.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMarch 15,2023 at 6:50AM UTC
The hiring manager has every right to set whatever parameters they want to. What, specifically, does your co-worker recommend you complain about?
AnonymousMarch 18,2023 at 1:34PM UTC
For starters that they didn’t bother to mention their show stopper preference for someone on the east coast, thereby cutting off all candidates west of the Mississippi. HR should be addressing this, though. The next posting should provide more details, where applicable.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMarch 18,2023 at 9:24PM UTC
Agreed. I assume that's why the recruiter said she's going to request that moving forward that job requisitions should state if there is a geographical requirement. It sounds like that issue is going to be addressed.
But that's not an answer to my question about that, specifically, does the OP's co-worker recommend they complain about.
AnonymousMarch 19,2023 at 7:27PM UTC
I responded already. My coworker thinks that since the requisition didn't state a geographical preference its wrong for them to not consider me because of it
Celena BartonMarch 18,2023 at 12:40PM UTC
I do understand this. Our company is fully remote but our leadership team is on the east coast. They often have early morning meetings and the west coast does not attend. They want people who are available on their schedule. Is it fair? No. I’m a morning person so I would have no issue with early morning meetings, but obviously this hiring manager has run into some issues that have set a bias.
AnonymousMarch 18,2023 at 1:27PM UTC
Some thoughts on this.
I work remotely as a consultant. I live in the east coast and will not consider positions in another time zone. Although the idea of having more time in the morning is appealing, I know that I will be annoyed when I have to work until 7 every night. Just my personality. Your hiring manager thinks everyone will not want to get up early. Well, my husband gets up at 4:30 every morning, so I would be a great fit for remote work for an east coast company while living on the west coast. They have some bias that they really should look into. Everyone is different.
Some remote positions want you to occasionally join folks in the office. In my role this is likely - it’s more cost effective to have people travel within the same time zone.
This scenario is why many people leave an organization to move up. Although they say it is because of your location, it could be as simple as wanting someone new - they already have you, and think they know you.
I would provide respectful feedback on the bias you’ve experienced during this process, along with the sincere wish that they find the right person, and move on.
Whether “moving on” means within this organization or somewhere else, is up to you. This job should have been posted as fully remote, east coast location preferred, and why it is preferred - this would have allowed for your cover letter to address, for example, that your household is fully functioning at 5 am, making east coast time a perfect fit. Unfortunately, many hiring managers and HR don’t understand the impact these types of mistakes have on employee morale and turnover.
AnonymousMarch 19,2023 at 7:25PM UTC
This is a completely different department for one of our subsidiaries so they don't know me.
AnonymousMarch 18,2023 at 6:40PM UTC
To be clear remote often means where the company wants you to be remote and to make it easiest for the folks you will have to interact with often times it is time zone sensitive so that no one needs to be on a phone call or zoom meeting in their pajamas or worse yes middle of the night. Respect the decision, don't place blame. In this crazy market and literally just a few years into this whole remote work thing many companies are still struggling to figure out what works. The recruiter is just the messenger, she did her job and if she is suggesting that you contact the hiring manager she clearly still endorses you as a great candidate but she is NOT the decisionmaker. The hiring manager is. They may also be making decisions as the go and with more time there are likely more candidates to choose from and some may live in the right zone though albeit may have less qualifications than you to get the job done and they made decide to go that route to get the role filled. You could if you still have strong interest instead of being upset about this write a well written letter to the hiring manager respectfully understanding their position. Let them know how well treated you were by the recruiter during their decision making about location as the interviews unfurled. Let her know that you remain interested and given the opportunity to advance in the process will be willing to work whatever hours are required and come travel to where they are if need be to make things work. Also end the mail with a I understand if this is not possible but also want to express my strong interest in your company and mission. Lead with grace, you never know if/when they may come back to you.