Interview & presentation, was the job ever there?

[minghis]

Had an interview recently where I was given a task of preparing a SWOT analysis of an aspect of the prospective employers business, and then putting together and presenting at interview not only my findings but what I would do to sort them out and specifically increase sales.

I have to say I did what I believe to be a great job and am convinced I identified many areas where they honestly didn't realise problems were and gave the relevevnt ideas on how to improve them.

Got a call the next day - sorry, unsuccessful - came across well but not quite what we were looking for, etc.

Now in hindsight I can't help but feel I've simply done a very good mystery shopping job for them, and probably saved them a good bit of cash in consultancy fees for the ideas and plans I presented to them.

Am I being cynical or is this something that's known to happen?

[5harp3y]

You're being cynical

[Ali_D]

Ah - see dilbert for advice Interviewing for information

[siscar]

It's possible but it would be an awfully time consuming way of doing it and not necessarily very useful to them at the end of it.

[AJS-]

Did your recommendations involve firing the person interviewing you, or cutting back on perks?