Interview date - no flexibility
Discussion
Hello all,
Wanted to get a super-objective feedback from you all!
I recently applied for a job (in education sector) and been given an interview recently. The catch is, in the proposed interview date I have a family/medical issue and can not participate. I've kindly asked them to re-schedule or arrange something else, explaining my situation. In the previous years,I had a similar issue where I had attended skype interview first than personal interview arranged to meet staff.
In this occasion, unfortunately, the HR came back to me saying, they will go ahead with the scheduled interview date and if they do not like the candidates they might arrange another interview rounds where I can also join? I do find this a bit unfair, giving my situation is purely medical issue especially.
Some prior facts:
-They have not initially stated about the possible interview date, so I could not arrange my time-table.
-The potential employer is a well known university in London.
- It is a permanent teaching position, and usually these positions need quite long assessment period in order to find the right candidate.
- I have been working in this sector more than 8 years now, have worked at many universities both experience and qualifications are adequate.
Thanks all in advance
Wanted to get a super-objective feedback from you all!
I recently applied for a job (in education sector) and been given an interview recently. The catch is, in the proposed interview date I have a family/medical issue and can not participate. I've kindly asked them to re-schedule or arrange something else, explaining my situation. In the previous years,I had a similar issue where I had attended skype interview first than personal interview arranged to meet staff.
In this occasion, unfortunately, the HR came back to me saying, they will go ahead with the scheduled interview date and if they do not like the candidates they might arrange another interview rounds where I can also join? I do find this a bit unfair, giving my situation is purely medical issue especially.
Some prior facts:
-They have not initially stated about the possible interview date, so I could not arrange my time-table.
-The potential employer is a well known university in London.
- It is a permanent teaching position, and usually these positions need quite long assessment period in order to find the right candidate.
- I have been working in this sector more than 8 years now, have worked at many universities both experience and qualifications are adequate.
Thanks all in advance
k 'em.As a former employer I would only reschedule an interview to suit if it was a 1-2-1. Interviews can be weeks and months in the planning and could involve people who for whatever reason may not be available on other dates, ie. not in the country etc,
You have circumstances that are preventing you from attending on the date they are requesting, they have reasons not to offer other dates until they have discounted other people.
You have circumstances that are preventing you from attending on the date they are requesting, they have reasons not to offer other dates until they have discounted other people.
TTOBES said:
At this early stage - and given your advance notice - I think they should be accommodating of your request.
If they are like this now, what will they be like if you get on the payroll?
If they are like this now, what will they be like if you get on the payroll?
MKnight702 said:
I think you have had a free taster of what they may be like to work for. Sounds like a lucky escape to me.
Eggshackly!ooid said:
Hello all,
Wanted to get a super-objective feedback from you all!
I recently applied for a job (in education sector) and been given an interview recently. The catch is, in the proposed interview date I have a family/medical issue and can not participate. I've kindly asked them to re-schedule or arrange something else, explaining my situation. In the previous years,I had a similar issue where I had attended skype interview first than personal interview arranged to meet staff.
In this occasion, unfortunately, the HR came back to me saying, they will go ahead with the scheduled interview date and if they do not like the candidates they might arrange another interview rounds where I can also join? I do find this a bit unfair, giving my situation is purely medical issue especially.
Hi - that's quite common unfortunately. Interviews can be a PITA to organise, especially when managers have busy diaries. Also if they need somebody to start asap then they won't want to hang around. And also it's not good to leave the candidates who ARE able to attend for IV hanging around until they can interview you.Wanted to get a super-objective feedback from you all!
I recently applied for a job (in education sector) and been given an interview recently. The catch is, in the proposed interview date I have a family/medical issue and can not participate. I've kindly asked them to re-schedule or arrange something else, explaining my situation. In the previous years,I had a similar issue where I had attended skype interview first than personal interview arranged to meet staff.
In this occasion, unfortunately, the HR came back to me saying, they will go ahead with the scheduled interview date and if they do not like the candidates they might arrange another interview rounds where I can also join? I do find this a bit unfair, giving my situation is purely medical issue especially.
Some prior facts:
ooid said:
-They have not initially stated about the possible interview date, so I could not arrange my time-table.
That's poor on their part I think. We usually say "interviews will be held Week commencing...." just to warn people if nothing else.ooid said:
-The potential employer is a well known university in London.
ooid said:
- It is a permanent teaching position, and usually these positions need quite long assessment period in order to find the right candidate.
So are they usually multiple interviews/stages? Again it probably doesn't mean that the timetable should be more flexible. If anything it makes things harder to schedule/move around.ooid said:
- I have been working in this sector more than 8 years now, have worked at many universities both experience and qualifications are adequate.
And quite possibly so have the other candidates. My guess is that if you were head and shoulders above the others they may have been tempted to arrange another IV for you. However if they've had a strong field then they'll be less worried about finding a suitable candidate.hyphen said:
From what you have said to them, would they have reason to suspect this "family/medical issue" is something that may result in you needing further time off/flexibility if you were to get the job?
Dangerous grounds to consider when recruiting, I would have thought?"That female interviewee looks like she's the right age to pop a couple of sprogs" etc.
hyphen said:
From what you have said to them, would they have reason to suspect this "family/medical issue" is something that may result in you needing further time off/flexibility if you were to get the job?
Rightly or wrongly that's precisely what I'd be thinking as a potential employer, and unless there was a complete lack of suitable applicants there's really no need for them to go to any lengths to accommodate your requirements.Dromedary66 said:
hyphen said:
From what you have said to them, would they have reason to suspect this "family/medical issue" is something that may result in you needing further time off/flexibility if you were to get the job?
Rightly or wrongly that's precisely what I'd be thinking as a potential employer, and unless there was a complete lack of suitable applicants there's really no need for them to go to any lengths to accommodate your requirements.
My experience recruiting:
Scenario 1: 80 applicants, 10 longlisted, 4 to interview. One of the chosen 4 can't make the arranged day. 6 reserves available.
Scenario 2: 6 applicants, 3 longlisted and 3 no hopers. One of the longlist can't make the arranged day. 0 reserves available.
Sadly OP, it seems you're in scenario 1. Were it scenario 2 you'd be in with a good chance.
Scenario 1: 80 applicants, 10 longlisted, 4 to interview. One of the chosen 4 can't make the arranged day. 6 reserves available.
Scenario 2: 6 applicants, 3 longlisted and 3 no hopers. One of the longlist can't make the arranged day. 0 reserves available.
Sadly OP, it seems you're in scenario 1. Were it scenario 2 you'd be in with a good chance.
Thank you so much everyone, loads of different feedback. I spoke to an HR specialist friend from another institution today. She basically said that, whatever the conditions are I'm shortlisted (there are 5 actually) and I do have a specific time-slot to be interviewed , so the worst case scenario, as a courtesy, I should have been offered at least a video interview on that timing.
She claimed that, in similar situations, that's what they have offered before, at the end of the day, as an employer, they should have a right to see which candidate is really best for them and see what are the actual options. - even though on paper, there might be some much more stronger candidates-. Her summary was, she found the whole process not only unfair, but it's also quite not propitious for the employer themselves.
Anyway, thanks for all the feedback again, strange situation
She claimed that, in similar situations, that's what they have offered before, at the end of the day, as an employer, they should have a right to see which candidate is really best for them and see what are the actual options. - even though on paper, there might be some much more stronger candidates-. Her summary was, she found the whole process not only unfair, but it's also quite not propitious for the employer themselves.
Anyway, thanks for all the feedback again, strange situation
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