Finding employment and 'timewaster' interviews

[strings]

As some of you may know, I am currently unemployed due to a cut in my last employers' government funding.

I have turned jobhunting into my full time occupation, working 8.30am to 5pm every day on finding work. However I have started to come across a new and unwanted phenomenon - 'timewaser' interviews.

I have been to 3 interviews in the last week where I have been pretty much told in my feedback after the interview that they had no intention of employing me in the first place.

Company number 1 is a large multi-national construction company. In their feedback to me they said that I was perfect for the job, but they offered it to somebody else because I had a Masters' Degree and, as such, they thought I was too ambitious to stay there for any period of time.

Company number 2 is a large Educational institution, who also turned me down because I have a masters' degree (quite hypocritical for an educational institution methinks). They said I interviewed very well, but they were concerned that I may be "over-qualified" for the post in question.

Company number 3 is my former employer, and the post was internal only - I was internal when I applied. Anyway, their feedback was that I was suitable, however they needed somebody instantly and did not have the time to re-employ.

In all three cases it is clear that they had no intention on employing me regardless of how well the interview went, given that the reason they all gave me for not employing me was something that they knew before I stepped into the interview room.

What can I do about these timewaster interviews? I am getting frustrated, because every time I attend an interview I have to write off a morning/afternoon that I could have used for filling in application forms.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Do you need to put your masters degree on your CV. OK, it's something you should be rightly proud of, but if it's going to actually hold you back from getting a job, then I'd be inclined to chop it out, and only mention it if asked. Employers are going to be primarily interested in your past work experience.

 

[strings]

Do you need to put your masters degree on your CV. OK, it's something you should be rightly proud of, but if it's going to actually hold you back from getting a job, then I'd be inclined to chop it out, and only mention it if asked.

I had thought about doing this.

It would be nice if interviewers gave useful feedback, however when pressed, only a few interviewers have actually been able to give me any useful feedback. I will name Walsall council as an example - I went to the interview, didn't get the job but they gave me fantastic and really useful feedback, which I will apply in future interviews. The three above were simply wasting my time.

 

[Don't get me started]

I'm in sales and it is incredibly easy to get sales appointments at the moment as people will do anything to make themselves look busy.

I have had 4 meetings this month where I have turned up and spoken to someone who sits there with no interest but will be able to say to their boss. "ohh you cant fire me I am seeing all these people trying to save the company money" So I feel this may be the same thing.

Might just be that I have suddenly become shit at selling though!!

 

[skipper734]

So nowadays instead of bigging up your CV you have to dumb it down. Mental.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Seeing as it's holding you back, can I have your Masters' Degree?

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Just an aside about CV's. A chum of mine runs a CV writing company. She's a former nurse (way back) and set about offering a simple service that didn't exploit people in their time of need. She's a lovely lass and they have just won an award for the service. If anyone's thinking about getting help with a CV I'd give her a call first - Christine at www.cvnurse.co.uk . I think they have some free advice stuff too.

 

[Bluejuice]

I know the feeling all too well.

It's these nonsense laws requiring posts to be advertised for certain periods and demanding all applications be considered even when the firm have no intention of employing anyone other than their already chosen candidate.

Before I went back to college I competed with just one other person for a permanent job with the company I'd been temping at. His interview took 15 minutes and mine was closer to 50 so I naturally thought I'd done pretty well, particularly as he came back from his interview with his head held in his hands.

I didn't get the job however and the feedback I got was entirely lame.

I later discovered my interviewer was gay and had rather a penchant for pretty boys in skinny fit clothing. I am not a pretty boy in skinny fit clothing. My rival was.

I recently discovered that said interviewer has since left the company and the country. HMMMMMM

 

[beorhthelm]

its not new. and think yourself lucky for getting any feedback, i heard nothing from half the jobs interviewed for last year, in a couple of cases i wasnt even told i was unsuccessful at the interview

It's these nonsense laws requiring posts to be advertised for certain periods and demanding all applications be considered even when the firm have no intention of employing anyone other than their already chosen candidate.

i thought this was the case, but apparently there are no such laws only company policy.

 

[Bluejuice]

No there are laws with regards to specific roles in certain institutions, government bodies and the like

 

[withdeanwombat]

Interviews,eh?

I went to one once where four of us were shown around,had elevenses with the principal managers,written tests,etc.,etc.........then finally "Oh,and here's Marlene.Come in Marlene.Marlene is our INTERNAL apllicant." Guess who got that job !

Another - internal - interview for my OWN job in a place where my "disagreements" with company policy were well known,went so well it nearly came to blows,and THEN I found out I'd had a different interview panel.

Another - you were the best candidate but you are too young (so why the interview?).

Don't give up.You'll get something I'm sure,but do remember interviews are two way meetings,and never be afraid to speak your mind at these dopey debrief sessions afterwards.

 

[Arthur]

Not employing someone because they are over qualified is a more than valid reason for knocking someone back.

Whilst it's frustrating for the candidate I can assure you it's even more frustrating for the employer when 3 months down the line Dave the candidate has the motivation of a house brick because he's not being challenged in the role and does bugger all. Or that Dave the candidate has buggered off to a new role and the employment process has to start again.

I've experienced both instances in the last 5 years on more than one occasion. In one instance the member of staff near enough plain and simply refused to do the work allocated to him. We then had to go through the relevant disciplinary procedures, all which takes time and money away from the business.

My advice would be to have several versions of your CV. When applying for roles decide which CV skill set would be best suited to the role.

 

[strings]

Not employing someone because they are over qualified is a more than valid reason for knocking someone back.

I quite agree, having been involved in recruitment before myself on a couple of occasions. However, there is no excuse for asking somebody in to interview if it has already been decided that said person is over qualified.

Quite simply it is a waste of everybody's time.

 

[BensGrandad]

Chap I know was a uni lecturer who wanted to change the course of his career but still stay in IT and was turned down for a job in favour of one of his pupils as he was said to be too old and he is 35 years old.

 

[Lush]

My advice would be to have several versions of your CV. When applying for roles decide which CV skill set would be best suited to the role.

This is good advice. While the basic chronology of your career remains the same, it's easy to beef up the description on some positions and keep others to a minimum, depending on the job.

Also never underestimate how threatened managers are by the over-qualified, especially if they're looking over their own shoulders.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I have three versions of my CV and then if I get the chance I tweak it for each individual submission. Mind you, I'm still looking for extra work after 6 months so maybe don't listen to me.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I've just spoken to Christine at cvnurse.co.uk and she is happy to offer NSC users a 20% discount. If you're thinking about online cv sites, check out a few, but you'll find that cvnurse are very competitive already plus you get a free consultancy up front. Phone is 01379 586840

To get the 20% off you must be paying by cheque (not paying online) and you'll need to mention the magic words "North Stand Chat" to them. Better than nothing - hope this helps someone.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I've just spoken to Christine at cvnurse.co.uk and she is happy to offer NSC users a 20% discount. If you're thinking about online cv sites, check out a few, but you'll find that cvnurse are very competitive already plus you get a free consultancy up front. Phone is 01379 586840

To get the 20% off you must be paying by cheque (not paying online) and you'll need to mention the magic words "North Stand Chat" to them. Better than nothing - hope this helps someone.

Of course, starting an NSC thread on CV hints may prove even more cost-effective...

 

[e77]

I agree that if you fail an interview on something that they could have picked up on your CV then it is a waste of everyone's time.

I had an interview in Slough before Christmas where they turned me down as I live in Worthing (despite the fact I offered to relocate for the duration of the contract) and another one where I lacked a certain IT skill that myself and the agent had pointed out I didn't have.

Just to stop this being a rant, I start a new contract on Monday.

 

[Cian]

My employer were bastards for doing this when an internal candidate was going to get the job anyway under our previous HR director; the new one doesn't have the same "we must give everyone a fair chance (even though we aren't)" attitude thankfully. Although now some promotions happen without interview process at all which is a bit dodgy.

I even had to sit in on a sham interview panel for my manager one day, making up pointless questions to ask the candidate and marking a technical test I knew was going in the bin. Luckily they'd only called in one candidate to waste his time; problem was I think he'd have been far better at the job!