Am I right to be a bit peeved?
Am I right to be a bit peeved?
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Discussion

Mike400

Original Poster:

1,026 posts

262 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
I applied for a part time evening job, only 16 hours a week in an unnamed big retail store, as the extra cash while not essential, would be handy.

Now without bumming myself up, my day job is a professional / technical type role and a large chunk of the role involves dealing with the public.

To cut a long story short, I met all the job criteria.

I passed a "test" in the store with 100%, then had an interview with the boss, who twice told me I was over-qualified for the post, and seemed confused as to why I was applying.

He said his only concern was that my day job might get in the way - i.e. if I had a big project on I might need to work late and therefore not be able to get to my evening job.

I twice assured him that this has never happened and it would not be the case, and I had no reason to think I couldnt do the hours or I wouldnt have applied.


This morning I get an email, saying I didnt get the position;

"Whilst you had some of the skills and experience we're looking for, there were other candidates who were a closer match for the role. So I regret to inform you that we won't be progressing your application any further on this occasion."

Im not bothered about not getting the job BUT I think the refusal I got was pretty confusing after what I was told at interview stage?

Should I reply and ask for clarification on what skills / experience I didnt have?


Dontlift

9,396 posts

289 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
its simple they wanted a McJobber........ not someone capable

randlemarcus

13,646 posts

262 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
A bit peeved is about the right level of vexatiousness for this one.
Depends how you feel about embarking on an extended session of forehead/wall interface as to whether you follow it up , I suppose.

In theory, you'd have a great case for discrimination if you were anything but a WASP, as thats simply silly. In reality, you've already been told why you havent got the job - you're overqualified, and the manager thinks you either wont stick around for very long, or you'll embarrass him. I'd probably be tempted to write a few letters, not so much in the expectation you'll get anywhere, but in the sure and certain knowledge that HR people do like to multiply paper trails by getting all and sundry involved.

Vesuvius 996

35,829 posts

302 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Dontlift said:
its simple they wanted a McJobber........ not someone capable
BING!


Correct.

They want a grunt who will do exactly what they're told, and won't think for themselves.


cronk-flakes

3,480 posts

284 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Simple template reply?

Probably said the same thing to 25 other people.

HundredthIdiot

4,477 posts

315 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Boss felt threatened.

Besides, why are you taking jobs from the proles? Do something you're skilled at instead.

randomman

2,215 posts

220 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Vesuvius 996 said:
Dontlift said:
its simple they wanted a McJobber........ not someone capable
BING!


Correct.

They want a grunt who will do exactly what they're told, and won't think for themselves.
People who think for themselves are too much hassle.

"Stack shelf long time", would be all the input you get.

Monki

1,233 posts

222 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
they just send a standard "rejection" letter out I think. I had the same with a large un-named export/import company in Birmingham. They advertised for someone fluent in French and experience of french custom/culture. I completed their in-house examination with 100% pass, had lived in France for 4years so was fluent in the language (also spoke a good level of German) and was then told me my level of french was inadequate for the company mad

The job went to a girl I knew who failed the in-house test but had a 2:2 in French from B'ham uni, had never lived in France and admitted to me herself that she was not good enough to speak on the phone to a french person.

I did reply to the rejection letter offering a sex-change and to dumb my french down but I never received a reply laugh

Edited by Monki on Tuesday 5th August 09:55

rude-boy

22,227 posts

264 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Rejection letters are fine. It happens and as said they were obviously after a monkey.

That said it would piss me right off to get a totally inaccurate and frankly lying response from them. Sure that letter would do for 90% of the applicants but in your case it wouldn't have been too hard to just say that we feel you are considerably over qualified for the role meaning you would be unlikely to fit into their 'team' and get boared easily. Or some such.

Punish them for their laziness, write a few letters and run with it, so long as you don't ever wish to work for them in any other role...

One point i would mention though is that these things have to be very bland so as not to open any doors for discrimination....

TimDarracott

1,138 posts

252 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Boss probably thought he would be out of a job 2 months after you starting..

Justayellowbadge

37,057 posts

273 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Monki said:
The job went to a girl I knew who failed the in-house test but had a 2:2 in French from B'ham uni, had never lived in France and admitted to me herself that she was not good enough to speak on the phone to a french person.
Ok, so it's a Desmond, but how on earth do you get a degree in a modern language and still be incapable of actually speaking it?

Madness.

Vesuvius 996

35,829 posts

302 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Monki said:
The job went to a girl I knew who failed the in-house test but had a 2:2 in French from B'ham uni, had never lived in France and admitted to me herself that she was not good enough to speak on the phone to a french person. She did however have fantastic tits.
EFA..



Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Tuesday 5th August 10:14

Monki

1,233 posts

222 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Justayellowbadge said:
Monki said:
The job went to a girl I knew who failed the in-house test but had a 2:2 in French from B'ham uni, had never lived in France and admitted to me herself that she was not good enough to speak on the phone to a french person.
Ok, so it's a Desmond, but how on earth do you get a degree in a modern language and still be incapable of actually speaking it?

Madness.
She had a french penfriend who completed all the assignments for her, so she could scrape through in "examination" scenarios but the good grades from "home" assignments would make up the marks to get a pass. Add to this that the course was very much "dumbed down" and you can see why a pass was possible.
It's one of the reasons I don't think a degree should be held with the same level of respect it used to be frown

Fatboy

8,270 posts

303 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Monki said:
Justayellowbadge said:
Monki said:
The job went to a girl I knew who failed the in-house test but had a 2:2 in French from B'ham uni, had never lived in France and admitted to me herself that she was not good enough to speak on the phone to a french person.
Ok, so it's a Desmond, but how on earth do you get a degree in a modern language and still be incapable of actually speaking it?

Madness.
She had a french penfriend who completed all the assignments for her, so she could scrape through in "examination" scenarios but the good grades from "home" assignments would make up the marks to get a pass. Add to this that the course was very much "dumbed down" and you can see why a pass was possible.
It's one of the reasons I don't think a degree should be held with the same level of respect it used to be frown
What university would let that slide? HTF did her tutors/examiners not clock this???

Unless of course, as Vesuvious said, it's due to her great tits...

Justayellowbadge

37,057 posts

273 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Fatboy said:
Monki said:
Justayellowbadge said:
Monki said:
The job went to a girl I knew who failed the in-house test but had a 2:2 in French from B'ham uni, had never lived in France and admitted to me herself that she was not good enough to speak on the phone to a french person.
Ok, so it's a Desmond, but how on earth do you get a degree in a modern language and still be incapable of actually speaking it?

Madness.
She had a french penfriend who completed all the assignments for her, so she could scrape through in "examination" scenarios but the good grades from "home" assignments would make up the marks to get a pass. Add to this that the course was very much "dumbed down" and you can see why a pass was possible.
It's one of the reasons I don't think a degree should be held with the same level of respect it used to be frown
What university would let that slide? HTF did her tutors/examiners not clock this???

Unless of course, as Vesuvious said, it's due to her great tits...
I presume she excelled in the oral examination.




getmecoat

Monki

1,233 posts

222 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
She was a bit of a chunky monkey to be honest laugh but I guess that like with the original poster, an employee with a basic understanding is easier to control than one with a good understanding.

As for how the tutors did not notice. Excuse was "exam pressure" and I think they just want students to pass to make the performance look better.

Vesuvius 996

35,829 posts

302 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Monki said:
She was a bit of a chunky monkey to be honest laugh but I guess that like with the original poster, an employee with a basic understanding is easier to control than one with a good understanding.

As for how the tutors did not notice. Excuse was "exam pressure" and I think they just want students to pass to make the performance look better.
Exactly.

Which is why I've just had a law graudate in here who didn't know any law.


scorp

8,783 posts

260 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
I would have thought being over qualified makes you a "flight risk", e.g. you will move to a better job as soon as one comes up.

So no, you can't be peeved.

Edited by scorp on Tuesday 5th August 10:38

Monki

1,233 posts

222 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
hardly surprising, I think a lot of it is down to the need to reach targets rather than actually give an education.

Mr POD

5,153 posts

223 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
HundredthIdiot said:
Boss felt threatened.

Besides, why are you taking jobs from the proles? Do something you're skilled at instead.
Indeed, if you have 16 hours spare, why not Set up a part time consultancy.

When My dad worked as a Computer Systems consultant for the NHS, he also had a business on the side writing byspoke software.