Agency sitting in interview - er...you what?!
Discussion
I've just got back from a terrible interview. Took the day off for it and met the recruitment agency girl 15 minutes before the interview. She insisted we met and that she will be outside her clients office to see me.
We walk into reception and I say I'm here for the interview and sit down together waiting for the chap to collect me. 5 minutes later he appears and greets her first and then me.
Next thing I know, she's walking off with him through the security barriers and up the escalator chatting away with him, leaving me walking behind like a child. Squeeze into a tiny meeting room only for her to follow us in so she can sit down, get her notepad out and says "no problem if I sit in on this one?". He replies "yer sure no worries".
As I'm going through this torturous grilling from him she's quietly sitting there writing the questions down with the occasional giggle and smile.
I refused the role almost immediately - instantly said that start times will mean I have to wake up at 4:30am each day with over an hour journey each way. The interviewers ignored me and continued their grilling session.
I came away feeling like a guinea pig - I stood no chance. Meanwhile old ditzi tits has got all the questions for her next candidates.
We left the room an hour later only for me to follow them both back down the escalator - he shook her hand and then mine in a "clear off mate" after thought way.
Get outside together and she says "so, how did you think it went".
"Not for me but thanks any way" is all I could muster and we both walked off in separate ways.
What a total joke. This clearly can't be acceptable practice can it?!
We walk into reception and I say I'm here for the interview and sit down together waiting for the chap to collect me. 5 minutes later he appears and greets her first and then me.
Next thing I know, she's walking off with him through the security barriers and up the escalator chatting away with him, leaving me walking behind like a child. Squeeze into a tiny meeting room only for her to follow us in so she can sit down, get her notepad out and says "no problem if I sit in on this one?". He replies "yer sure no worries".
As I'm going through this torturous grilling from him she's quietly sitting there writing the questions down with the occasional giggle and smile.
I refused the role almost immediately - instantly said that start times will mean I have to wake up at 4:30am each day with over an hour journey each way. The interviewers ignored me and continued their grilling session.
I came away feeling like a guinea pig - I stood no chance. Meanwhile old ditzi tits has got all the questions for her next candidates.
We left the room an hour later only for me to follow them both back down the escalator - he shook her hand and then mine in a "clear off mate" after thought way.
Get outside together and she says "so, how did you think it went".
"Not for me but thanks any way" is all I could muster and we both walked off in separate ways.
What a total joke. This clearly can't be acceptable practice can it?!
It was very very tempting. I actually tried to stop the interview:
1. They straight away explained they work shifts. It’s either 7am start or finish late into the evening. Conveniently never mentioned on the job description or over the phone with the agency girl. I politely said that I’m not willing to wake up at 4:30am each day to be in by 7am. Should have been game over but oh no...we continued by ignoring what I just said.
2. They then proceeded to grill me about totally different skill sets (financial analysis in particular) and going into some pretty serious in depth stuff (the type where you’re going to need a few fancy expensive certificates) - oh it’s just your normal IT software development role btw. According to these guys though, the role also does mostly support (so not really developing anything), but they bizarrely also do a lot of mathematical stuff as well (i.e. an IB quant with a PhD in maths). Oh...can you speak another language as this helps too. Can you identify, looking at this forward curve when it would be a good time to invest? Do you know Java, Python, Ruby? How about C#, okay great! But we also use R as well- do you know this? Why not? Okay, okay. We will bring things back to your pitiful level. Databases. On this particular version of Oracle, what exact script would you run to see any latency issues...I just gave up. Just kept repeating “sorry, I don’t know”.
What the actual
. Good luck finding this superman.
All the while recruitment wonder is at the end of the small 4 man table writing down each question. Could be about mathematics, could be financials, some programming here, a bit of support questioning there. It’s was excruciatingly painful watching this guy sit there plucking random questions out his head pretending I’m still being considered for this job rather than agreeing that I’m not in the running at all. Painful. Very painful and wasted day. Shudder
1. They straight away explained they work shifts. It’s either 7am start or finish late into the evening. Conveniently never mentioned on the job description or over the phone with the agency girl. I politely said that I’m not willing to wake up at 4:30am each day to be in by 7am. Should have been game over but oh no...we continued by ignoring what I just said.
2. They then proceeded to grill me about totally different skill sets (financial analysis in particular) and going into some pretty serious in depth stuff (the type where you’re going to need a few fancy expensive certificates) - oh it’s just your normal IT software development role btw. According to these guys though, the role also does mostly support (so not really developing anything), but they bizarrely also do a lot of mathematical stuff as well (i.e. an IB quant with a PhD in maths). Oh...can you speak another language as this helps too. Can you identify, looking at this forward curve when it would be a good time to invest? Do you know Java, Python, Ruby? How about C#, okay great! But we also use R as well- do you know this? Why not? Okay, okay. We will bring things back to your pitiful level. Databases. On this particular version of Oracle, what exact script would you run to see any latency issues...I just gave up. Just kept repeating “sorry, I don’t know”.
What the actual
. Good luck finding this superman.All the while recruitment wonder is at the end of the small 4 man table writing down each question. Could be about mathematics, could be financials, some programming here, a bit of support questioning there. It’s was excruciatingly painful watching this guy sit there plucking random questions out his head pretending I’m still being considered for this job rather than agreeing that I’m not in the running at all. Painful. Very painful and wasted day. Shudder
Edited by Anubis on Thursday 31st May 17:49
strange he would carry on with the interview despite the fact you told him you wouldn't do those hours.
Had a similar experience years ago when being interviewed for a job, few company big wigs in and after a few questions they said the working hours 8.30 until 7 I said oh then its not for me I am not willing to work till 7.
he pretty much ignored it and carried on until I reminded him this would be pointless to carry on.
Had a similar experience years ago when being interviewed for a job, few company big wigs in and after a few questions they said the working hours 8.30 until 7 I said oh then its not for me I am not willing to work till 7.
he pretty much ignored it and carried on until I reminded him this would be pointless to carry on.
Bizarre isn’t it. I just sat there, helpless just wanting to leave. I even said something along the lines of “erm...I’m very average when it comes to mathematics; it sounds like you need a quant or someone. I’m a software guy”
They then sort of ignored me again and started on about analysing financials. I said...”sorry. I honestly don’t understand the role. It’s very broad and doesn’t match the job description” (hint: please stop and let me leave!!!). So they moved on to computer programming...finally! Instead they chose to pick me apart by saying “but why don’t you know this programming language? Okay...well we also do this here as well”.
Er...ooooookay. You wanted someone with experience using this and that. I’m not sure why I’m being challenged over other stuff not mentioned.
One of the worst interviews ever. Topped off by following the recruitment consultant girl down an escalator and having to watch them chat and shake hands. Almost like I was forgotten about by the time I reached reception
They then sort of ignored me again and started on about analysing financials. I said...”sorry. I honestly don’t understand the role. It’s very broad and doesn’t match the job description” (hint: please stop and let me leave!!!). So they moved on to computer programming...finally! Instead they chose to pick me apart by saying “but why don’t you know this programming language? Okay...well we also do this here as well”.
Er...ooooookay. You wanted someone with experience using this and that. I’m not sure why I’m being challenged over other stuff not mentioned.
One of the worst interviews ever. Topped off by following the recruitment consultant girl down an escalator and having to watch them chat and shake hands. Almost like I was forgotten about by the time I reached reception
Edited by Anubis on Thursday 31st May 18:14
I wouldnt worry too much about it - sounds like company want an easy person to lump all the st onto.
I once went to a Grad role interview at a council (in IT), and a good quarter of the interview involved me trying to think of ways and ideas for their "Green IT" philosophy. Lets not worry too much about the skillset in the job role then eh?
t onto.I once went to a Grad role interview at a council (in IT), and a good quarter of the interview involved me trying to think of ways and ideas for their "Green IT" philosophy. Lets not worry too much about the skillset in the job role then eh?
Go on then, post the job description, curious to see how that aligns with the nonsense they asked you about?
Truly bizarre about the agency broad being in there, as you say, the next canidate will benefit from knowing the questions in advance, although it sounds like they want the moon on the stick there. Hope it was paying bloody excellently!
Truly bizarre about the agency broad being in there, as you say, the next canidate will benefit from knowing the questions in advance, although it sounds like they want the moon on the stick there. Hope it was paying bloody excellently!
Anubis said:
One of the worst interviews ever. Topped off by following the recruitment consultant girl down an escalator and having to watch them chat and shake hands. Almost like I was forgotten about by the time I reached reception
But you had been. The relationship is between hirer and recruitment consultant; they will likely have worked together for some time and the recruiter's job is to make sure that the hirer keeps on coming back to her - so she will be doing very best to keep him sweet.You are merely the product, and if you don't fit the bill then you're no good to either of them.
Totally get your point above. I’m not that naive and stupid. 
But you don’t treat people, especially potential colleagues and total strangers like st. Just some basic manners would have been appreciated as they came across as very unprofessional. If they do it too many times word soon spreads.
Not that it’ll impact either company in the slightest but I certainly will never ever try either of them again (agency or their end client that was hiring). If they did this to many others then they are losing business and good candidates. It’s self defeating. No one else has ever done this before - especially sitting in getting all the interview questions. That was my time - not hers.
But you don’t treat people, especially potential colleagues and total strangers like s
t. Just some basic manners would have been appreciated as they came across as very unprofessional. If they do it too many times word soon spreads. Not that it’ll impact either company in the slightest but I certainly will never ever try either of them again (agency or their end client that was hiring). If they did this to many others then they are losing business and good candidates. It’s self defeating. No one else has ever done this before - especially sitting in getting all the interview questions. That was my time - not hers.
Kind of reminds of an interview I was sent for in the 90's. I had been working on an internet tech support desk and was looking for a similar role.
I pitched up for my interview and was ushered into a very plush room where i was offered coffee/refreshments while i wait...
After a short while three people came into the room and introduced themselves, I had realised by this point that something was seriously amiss but maybe I could blag myself into a much better role than i was expecting.
It turns out they were looking for someone to fill the role of 'European controller of technical services' or something like that, and within two seconds of the interview starting starting it was fecking obvious to everyone in the room that we were all wasting each others time and now it was just a case of not embarrassing me too much.
I like to think that company i was sent to stopped using the agency, i certainly did!
I pitched up for my interview and was ushered into a very plush room where i was offered coffee/refreshments while i wait...
After a short while three people came into the room and introduced themselves, I had realised by this point that something was seriously amiss but maybe I could blag myself into a much better role than i was expecting.
It turns out they were looking for someone to fill the role of 'European controller of technical services' or something like that, and within two seconds of the interview starting starting it was fecking obvious to everyone in the room that we were all wasting each others time and now it was just a case of not embarrassing me too much.
I like to think that company i was sent to stopped using the agency, i certainly did!
Anubis said:
It was very very tempting. I actually tried to stop the interview:
1. They straight away explained they work shifts. It’s either 7am start or finish late into the evening. Conveniently never mentioned on the job description or over the phone with the agency girl. I politely said that I’m not willing to wake up at 4:30am each day to be in by 7am. Should have been game over but oh no...we continued by ignoring what I just said.
I'd have stood up at that point and pointedly asked 'why are you wasting my valuable time' and 'shall I'll see myself out?' Just walk out if necessary.1. They straight away explained they work shifts. It’s either 7am start or finish late into the evening. Conveniently never mentioned on the job description or over the phone with the agency girl. I politely said that I’m not willing to wake up at 4:30am each day to be in by 7am. Should have been game over but oh no...we continued by ignoring what I just said.
I'd also be talking to the agency about the unprofessional behaviour of their agent, find out if it is the agency or the agent.
I'm picky about which agencies I'll work with, the good ones are worth cultivating a long term relationship. My current favourite agent has placed me in a string of well paying contracts in the last few years and the owner of that agency had previously placed me in two permanent roles.
Anubis said:
2. They then proceeded to grill me about totally different skill sets (financial analysis in particular) and going into some pretty serious in depth stuff (the type where you’re going to need a few fancy expensive certificates) - oh it’s just your normal IT software development role btw. According to these guys though, the role also does mostly support (so not really developing anything), but they bizarrely also do a lot of mathematical stuff as well (i.e. an IB quant with a PhD in maths). Oh...can you speak another language as this helps too. Can you identify, looking at this forward curve when it would be a good time to invest? Do you know Java, Python, Ruby? How about C#, okay great! But we also use R as well- do you know this? Why not? Okay, okay. We will bring things back to your pitiful level. Databases. On this particular version of Oracle, what exact script would you run to see any latency issues...I just gave up. Just kept repeating “sorry, I don’t know”.
What the actual. Good luck finding this superman.
All the while recruitment wonder is at the end of the small 4 man table writing down each question. Could be about mathematics, could be financials, some programming here, a bit of support questioning there. It’s was excruciatingly painful watching this guy sit there plucking random questions out his head pretending I’m still being considered for this job rather than agreeing that I’m not in the running at all. Painful. Very painful and wasted day. Shudder
That is just bizarre. How much experience do you have? Always keep in mind you are interviewing them as well and demand at the moment out strips supply.What the actual
. Good luck finding this superman.All the while recruitment wonder is at the end of the small 4 man table writing down each question. Could be about mathematics, could be financials, some programming here, a bit of support questioning there. It’s was excruciatingly painful watching this guy sit there plucking random questions out his head pretending I’m still being considered for this job rather than agreeing that I’m not in the running at all. Painful. Very painful and wasted day. Shudder
I'm also in IT and over the years I've had to deal with some s
t interviewers and companies that I wouldn't touch with a barge pole but nothing like that bad. On the whole things are a much better these days that in the past when too many companies used to think they could treat their geeks like st. PMs that expect you to do long days because they are st at their job. Until I read this I'd have said those sort of employers don't exist any more. Clearly they do. There are plenty of good companies looking for decent employees and contractors. It is very much a candidates market at the moment.I'd say they are testing candidates to see if they can push them around and you let them, just be more assertive next time. Never start an answer a with 'Sorry...'.
Edited by 4x4Tyke on Thursday 31st May 20:14
SteBrown91 said:
I wouldnt worry too much about it - sounds like company want an easy person to lump all the st onto.
I once went to a Grad role interview at a council (in IT), and a good quarter of the interview involved me trying to think of ways and ideas for their "Green IT" philosophy. Lets not worry too much about the skillset in the job role then eh?
Yep, free consultancy, been there, usually start-upS run by chancers.t onto.I once went to a Grad role interview at a council (in IT), and a good quarter of the interview involved me trying to think of ways and ideas for their "Green IT" philosophy. Lets not worry too much about the skillset in the job role then eh?
I just gave up. I think even the guy interviewing me gave up on me within the first minute when I said I’m not working those hours but thought it was a good idea to keep going. Each time I pushed back and reiterated that I only make software. I just felt really dumb as they were making out that they did all this stuff. I kept asking “are you sure you do all this?” and another round of random questions from his head came my way.
It was just so so odd. If having a recruitment agent in the interview with you is to be the new norm then I give up. What’s stopping them from just helping out the next person each time until they get the “right candidate” (I.e. they know the answers or at least the type of discussion and subjects to discuss). That defeats the whole purpose...surely. Lol
They have certainly met before by the way they spoke to each other. Like it was no big deal for her to sit in through my allocated time.
It’s just mental and never wish to experience anything like it again
It was just so so odd. If having a recruitment agent in the interview with you is to be the new norm then I give up. What’s stopping them from just helping out the next person each time until they get the “right candidate” (I.e. they know the answers or at least the type of discussion and subjects to discuss). That defeats the whole purpose...surely. Lol
They have certainly met before by the way they spoke to each other. Like it was no big deal for her to sit in through my allocated time.
It’s just mental and never wish to experience anything like it again
Edited by Anubis on Thursday 31st May 20:16
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