218
Sabotaged by recruiter
A couple months ago I was interviewed for a position I really wanted. I went through the initial interview with the recruiter and everything went very well. She told me at the time that she had worked with the person who would be my boss, and my next interviewer, for years and they were friends. She followed up the next day and asked for dates and times I was available to do the next round of interviewing. I acknowledged the time zone difference and gave her my options. Due to COVID-19 it was a video interview, and she sent the invite. The day of the interview I discovered that the link to do the video interview did not work AND she completely disregarded my time zone reference. I barely made it home in time to boot up and get on the call...then the link not working.
I fully accept my responsibility in not double-checking all of these things, and this is why I did not blame anyone for the issues I experienced. However, I’m curious what others would have done in my situation. Would you have mentioned the time zone difference that was ignored? The bad link for the video was obvious and could not be blamed on me, but it’s still not ideal. I did not get the position, and I feel like the above issues contributed greatly to that decision. Any thoughts on how to handle it when a recruiter does a bad job like that?
Donna J. Downes-MatrealePersonal guide on your Transformational Journey
60
10/01/20 at 3:21PM UTC
First, I am sorry that you lost out on this opportunity, but perhaps this company seems a bit intolerant and it dhave been a good fit for you anyway. I had been on several interviews where the link was incorrect or bad. In one situation, the HR person sent one link to me and a separate link to the Senior Partner, we were both sitting in separate rooms. Fortunately, the Partner was understanding and we rescheduled. I didn't get the job but still it showed me that the company understood mistakes happen. That said I had another interview that the link broke in the middle of the interview and the VP blamed me as not being technical enough to operate a remote session. Funny, because I am an experienced programmer with many years under my belt of working remotely. I chalked that one up to-- I dodged a bullet at not getting that job offer! And patted myself on the back.
So your takeaway should be: one, do not blame yourself, just consider this a very valuable lesson learned. Simply put it is your career so leave nothing to chance in anyone else's hands. Where you can follow up or double check do so to the best of your ability.... always! Two, I think we put too much trust in recruiters, many of them are not skilled with the remote situation we have going on and could be overwhelmed, some may have a large volume of clients and potential candidates and just don't due their own due diligence, and some just are not trained to be thorough.
And lastly, many times, the link invitation will have the participants email addresses on them, if this one does, why not send the interviewer a quick Thank you for the opportunity, I am so disappointed there were technically difficulties that were out of our control, etc, etc..... obviously in your words of course, but you get the idea. It can not hurt because you didn't get offered the next step, so send it anyway, it will give you closure and who knows perhaps make them look at you a second time.
Good luck with your search. Stay positive and move on from disappointments, they are in your past, leave them there and look to the future.
Breathe well,
Donna
Rebecca Lee VCredentialing Specialist
3.44k
09/29/20 at 1:09PM UTC
I've been in the same situation and I don't know if they aren't paying attention or their systems isn't adjusting for the time change. as for the link not working that is on their end. Did you call or email to let her know?
Shelley MunroHR Professional
218
10/01/20 at 5:42PM UTC
I emailed immediately about the link not working since that was a huge issue right off the bat. The interviewer who would be my boss sent a new link, but it would not work. So we spent about 15 minutes of the allotted hour on technical issues. Things just went downhill from there.
Rebecca Lee VCredentialing Specialist
3.44k
10/01/20 at 5:47PM UTC
I would have picked up a phone and called you.
Mary Honderich Freelance Writing
228
09/28/20 at 12:25PM UTC
Was it just a mix-up?
Shelley MunroHR Professional
218
09/29/20 at 1:11PM UTC
I think some of it was, and I'm certainly willing to give people a pass over a simple mistake. However, that mistake did put me at a disadvantage...and I could tell in the tone of the interviewer that she had written me off before we even started. It was just very disheartening.
