Job Interviews - A Waste of Time?

[turtile]

So after three interviews and now a request for a fourth - am I wasting my time?

Interview one, I have to drive to a larger office an hour and a half further away to meet with the entire staff for the region. Spoke for an hour and a half. And apparently I have to move up the position (according to the new CEO) in the job ad.

->The head of the company calls me back and tells me that they already hired someone before my interview? Why? But my resume was much better so they referred me to another city.

->I had to miss the first time for the interview because we had a huge snow storm and many roads were impassible. After the 130 mile (one way) trip, the first thing I'm told is that the position is already filled but they are sure that at least 1 or 2 of the 5 new hires won't last. They tell me the moving up thing is not true...


->Corporate calls me again to interview at another office 100 miles away. When I get there, I find out that the position in which I applied isn't open and that I'd have to take a lowest position in the company. But they can forward my information to another office which needs the position.

->The office forwards my information to the other office - no response. But then I get an email from the 'other' office after corporate told them to interview me. The other office is 200 miles away.

So are they just wasting my time?

And do you think this company will be disorganized mess? Or is this common?

 

[Ns1]

that company sucks, move on.

 

[deadlyapp]

What the hell is the industry? Jesus, I've never heard of such a shit show. At the very least they would have been compensating you for all these interviews.

I'd cut your losses and move on. The hoops you're having to jump through now can only get worse when you work for them.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Job Interviews have a purpose if the interviewer is smart. Many people are great at selling bullshit, but a good interviewer can see right through it and detect how they function in an office. So to answer your blanket statement of if job interviews are useful - Yes, yes they are if used correctly.

In your situation, you have been batted around like a hooker. I would tell them (literally) quit wasting my time and miles. There becomes a point where you tell them you're not their little bitch that it starts to dawn on companies that you might be interviewing with others and to snatch you up if they truly want you that badly.

But in general their practices sound like total and complete shit. I wouldn't work for a company that stupid to bring someone in for an interview for a position that is closed. Any real HR would be able to manage things correctly and cancel an interview if need-be.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

My wife had to do 4 interviews, including one working one, to get the job she has now. In the end it was absolutely worth it as she makes quite a bit more than me.

 

[turtile]

that company sucks, move on.

That's what I'm thinking...

What the hell is the industry? Jesus, I've never heard of such a shit show. At the very least they would have been compensating you for all these interviews.

I'd cut your losses and move on. The hoops you're having to jump through now can only get worse when you work for them.

Plant Health Care/Tree Care (PHC requires a four year degree and experience). The lowest position is brush dragging.

I had a bad experience with the last job in this industry and I'm getting the feeling this will be the same.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

My wife had to do 4 interviews, including one working one, to get the job she has now. In the end it was absolutely worth it as she makes quite a bit more than me.

I had 3 interviews with a company before being one of the last remaining losers. (This was when I was out looking for my first job out of school). It sucked huge donkey balls, but even I have to say it's rather excessive.

My current job, here is the interview process:
1) Interview with ~3 different people one-on-one, each less than 20 minutes. Pretty casual appearance and talking.
2) Casual lunch out with 2-3 people to meet and get to know the person better.
3) Comeback from lunch, interview with final boss
-Fin. No bullshit. No returns. No phonecalls. Nothing. Is it really THAT hard to not be able to make a decision from that?

Even I agree, the 2-5 step processes for some employers is a retarded joke.

 

[turtile]

Job Interviews have a purpose if the interviewer is smart. Many people are great at selling bullshit, but a good interviewer can see right through it and detect how they function in an office. So to answer your blanket statement of if job interviews are useful - Yes, yes they are if used correctly.

In your situation, you have been batted around like a hooker. I would tell them (literally) quit wasting my time and miles. There becomes a point where you tell them you're not their little bitch that it starts to dawn on companies that you might be interviewing with others and to snatch you up if they truly want you that badly.

But in general their practices sound like total and complete shit. I wouldn't work for a company that stupid to bring someone in for an interview for a position that is closed. Any real HR would be able to manage things correctly and cancel an interview if need-be.

Many of the people that are involved are younger. I think they still have the recession mentality. (older than me of course) Too many desperate workers?

My wife had to do 4 interviews, including one working one, to get the job she has now. In the end it was absolutely worth it as she makes quite a bit more than me.

Well this job definitely doesn't pay anything amazing and it's hard work. The third interview was in an area where the cheapest rental was $1180 for a studio. They pay the higher position (PHC) $16 an hour so the lower end position probably paid much less.

 

[deadlyapp]

For $16 an hour I'd never even contemplate that sort of distance. You can make that much working retail management.

Cut your losses and look elsewhere.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

For $16 an hour I'd never even contemplate that sort of distance. You can make that much working retail management.

Cut your losses and look elsewhere.

My wife made that much as a supervisor of a medium sized department of a grocery store. Not even management of any kind.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

My wife made that much as a supervisor of a medium sized department of a grocery store. Not even management of any kind.

My first job out of school was for $22/hr.... and I was friggen desperate because I didn't even have retail experience heh.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I had 4 interviews with a company before I landed my first job in my new career.

1. Phone interview
2. Local interview with the regional lead
3. Local interview with the regional lead and the lead with their partner (who I would representing)
4. Flew me down to meet the bosses

Got job.

It was stressful, but it was worth it in the end. Was a great job, and now I'm rich biatch!

In your case though, it really does sound like they are either jerking you around or really disorganized.

 

[turtile]

I had 4 interviews with a company before I landed my first job in my new career.

1. Phone interview
2. Local interview with the regional lead
3. Local interview with the regional lead and the lead with their partner (who I would representing)
4. Flew me down to meet the bosses

Got job.

It was stressful, but it was worth it in the end. Was a great job, and now I'm rich biatch!

In your case though, it really does sound like they are either jerking you around or really disorganized.

They actually started with a phone interview from corporate. The first interview was with both the local manager and the entire regional office staff (6 people).

I'd have no problem going to four consistent interviews like you experienced...

 

[NoTine42]

Is this a company with utility company tree trimming contracts?
(Around here, they seem to be an out-of-state company that park at some business for a few weeks and then move on.

It's still not normal. In the office world, distances like that usually get reimbursement for interviews.

 

[gdansk]

Good way to filter out advanced autism.

 

[Lonyo]

I wouldn't want to work for a company that's so poorly managed. Avoid like the plague.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Move on OP.

I have a friend who went to interview for a consulting position. At each interview, they presented a piece of a problem they were facing and asked her for a solution. Well, conveniently, they kept scheduling additional interviews. It was obvious they had no clue how to solve the problem so they were "interviewing" my friend so she would solve the issue for them. They called back for ANOTHER interview (it was like the fifth one, IIRC) and my friend said "You've seen enough. Stop wasting my time."

 

[Anubis]

for my current job I had 1 informal non interview where we discussed that there may be openings in the future
job opened sent over resume and app form stuff
got call
had interview - 1/2 day thing met with 3-5 people including boss and big boss
got job

 

[Fritzo]

I went through 4 interviews for my current job and it's the best job ever. Turns out they were evaluating my personality to see if I fit in with the company culture (which is awesome, btw )

 

[Vdubchaos]

So after three interviews and now a request for a fourth - am I wasting my time?

Interview one, I have to drive to a larger office an hour and a half further away to meet with the entire staff for the region. Spoke for an hour and a half. And apparently I have to move up the position (according to the new CEO) in the job ad.

->The head of the company calls me back and tells me that they already hired someone before my interview? Why? But my resume was much better so they referred me to another city.

->I had to miss the first time for the interview because we had a huge snow storm and many roads were impassible. After the 130 mile (one way) trip, the first thing I'm told is that the position is already filled but they are sure that at least 1 or 2 of the 5 new hires won't last. They tell me the moving up thing is not true...


->Corporate calls me again to interview at another office 100 miles away. When I get there, I find out that the position in which I applied isn't open and that I'd have to take a lowest position in the company. But they can forward my information to another office which needs the position.

->The office forwards my information to the other office - no response. But then I get an email from the 'other' office after corporate told them to interview me. The other office is 200 miles away.

So are they just wasting my time?

And do you think this company will be disorganized mess? Or is this common?

The big question is, why are you continuing to go to interviews for this shitty company?

I would've dropped them upon finding out that they already hired someone, didn;t bother telling you about it and sent you hours away for interview for another position?

Sounds like a misorganized/confused/shitty company to me. No thanks.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

The big question is, why are you continuing to go to interviews for this shitty company?

I would've dropped them upon finding out that they already hired someone, didn;t bother telling you about it and sent you hours away for interview for another position?

Sounds like a misorganized/confused/shitty company to me. No thanks.

This. Also OP, I'd send them a reimbursement request for gas, mileage, lunch while driving, etc. You should be able to find the IRS rate for mileage reimbursement online (thought it was around $0.57 per mile, but better check). They probably won't reimburse you but you should try.

It is NOT common for stuff like this to happen. It has only happened to me once ever -- while a senior in college, I interviewed with Motorola in Chicago. I drove up there, spent the night, and went to the interview the next day. When I arrived, NO ONE had any clue they were supposed to be interviewing me that day. So the manager hastily threw together an interview and let me tell you, it sucked big time. Fortunately I didn't get the offer but they did reimburse for mileage, hotels, gas, meals, etc.

 

[TheSlamma]

Interviews are not a waste of time when the right questions are asked. (closed ended questions are useless)

It's also a way for you to get to see if it's a place you want to work and as Ns1 already stated that place sucks, move on. You couldn't have done that without an interview now could you?

I've turned down second interviews with places a half dozen times in my life now knowing those places were not for me.

 

[sourceninja]

...

 

[Ns1]

Y'all ares comparing apples to oranges. It's one thing to be asked to 4 interviews. It's another to be asked to an interview and to arrive there and the position is already filled.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Interviews are not a waste of time - the company you interviewed at, is.