Ok. I’m at the bottom of the food chain here at work for the time being. This new position opens up one month ago, and an email posting gets circulated internally. I immediately pounce on it, sending an emailed resume back down to HR expressing my interest. This woman, hereafter known as “L,” said great, we’ll keep you posted. Then the boss I would be reporting to in the new position goes on vacation for two weeks. Once he returns, L goes on break, so I can’t ask her for updates. Finally, she gets back, and I see all these people coming in for interviews with her. Since there are other positions available, I tried not to be paranoid. Then one of the girls handed me the application form and on it, it says "Applying for <my promotion>. I got seriously pissed off. I called L, and demanded to know why I hadn’t been a. interviewed, and b. notified that I wouldn’t be interviewed. After all, what was all that bullshit about internal employeed having priority in such cases? She goes into HR mode, being all vague and shit on the phone, and basically I gather that they wanted someone who already had experience in that dept. FINE. Just have the courtesy to tell me about it! Let me know they don’t want me! I wouldn’t have been nearly as pissed! I bet if I hadn’t called that bitch downstairs, the position would have been filled without them even telling me about it! (And I WAS THE FIRST TO APPLY) So now she is coming back to me, asking if I’m still interested. Well, I didn’t really feel like shooting myself in the foot, so I said yes. THen I realized, well ok, they’ll set up an interview just to be nice, and it will be a pity interview. I DON"T NEED YOUR PITY!!!
Just five seconds ago, I decided to send an email to remove myself from the list. I still don’t get why she didn’t at least try to set up an interview for me!?!?!?!?! Not to flatter myself, but I am one of the best admin people to pass through this office (I have been told this by quite a few people here, and in other offices). Dammit, I didn’t think the pile of crap you had to deal with in the corporate world was this thick!
And for those of you rating rants, I know this is probably low on your scale, but I just needed to bitch, so thanks for listening, whoever you are!
I’d still go through with the interview if I were you. You might be right that this is a “pity interview” and you don’t really have a chance at this position, but it’ll still be help the next time a new position opens. Just explain to the HR person how valuable you are, and, more importantly, how valuable you could be farther up the corporate ladder. Tell 'em why you ought to be showered with riches.
Then, see where that gets you. Maybe you actually get the job. Maybe they decide to promote you. Maybe they make room for two “new positions.” Maybe you get a nice surprise at your next performance review. Or maybe nothing happens, in which case, if you’re a truly valuable employee, it’s time for them to get along without you, if you get my drift.
I actually did change my mind. Might as well give it a shot. Show them I’m strong, and all that other stuff :)That I don’t flinch from dealing with condescending people who are “Better Than Me.” We’ll see what happens. <flinch>
Your name wouldn’t happen to be the French “zut,” would it?
You know HR people are lying when their lips are moving. I learned this the hard way, with 5+ years managing an IT department. I tripled my staff, but basically had to take the stack of resumes myself, go over them, and demand interviews with the people I wanted. Then hound HR to do it.
There is another factor involved – again, which I’ve experienced here. It is very possible that your boss or someone up the ladder told HR not to interview you because you are so good they don’t want to lose you. It’s generally an unspoken (and probably illegal) rule that your boss/department can veto an internal move, including a promotion to another job function within that department. It took our Administrative Assistant two years to move into a supervisor’s position, because she basically kept the department running and did 90% of the Director’s job. She had to threaten to resign to get them to move her into another position which she was absolutely qualified for.
Still try to press for the interview, if for no other reason than to show you can’t be ignored. Good luck.
Oh, and 5que has a good point. The HR people I’ve dealt with in the past have been, with a few notable exceptions, less than stellar. Since you know who the “potential new boss” is, you might consider dropping in on him/her to emphasize how valuable you could be, if only those foolish people in HR hadn’t given you short shrift.
So true about HR. And people in offices in general. You can never tell. The nicest, sweetest person can be the meanest, most hypocritical and backstabbing person there is. And I thought I was a good judge of character…
I’ll have to let you know if and when I get interviewed… in another month maybe
Oh and zut, I’m French. So seeing your name made me chuckle, especially since I was feeling like saying “zut” to all of them in HR. Actually, maybe not something as mild as “zut,” but all the same, it was great timing!
By conducting yourself in the MOSt professional manner you can manage (while you want to kill someone) you might just impress someone who needs someone like you.
Hang in there.
If htey hire someone else, make sure you mention that if this person doesnt work out, you are still interested.
I can’t see the harm in interviewing. If nothing else, you are honing your interview skills for when you leave over yet another HR blunder (only to leave for another company which has exactly the same HR department, only the have changes names and shirts – sorry to burst your bubble at the end there)
I can’t see the harm in interviewing. If nothing else, you are honing your interview skills for when you leave over yet another HR blunder (only to leave for another company which has exactly the same HR department, only the have changes names and shirts – sorry to burst your bubble at the end there)
I was always under the impression the HR is where they send people who aren’t cutting it elsewhere. That or they hire sadists (Catbert from Dilbert is perfect!) Because of this HR usually doesn’t get to actually make hiring decisions. They just make sure the policies and procedures have the appearance of being followed.
I have found that the best route is to find out who is making the hiring decision, and get to know them (or their staff) professionally by taking assignments in those horrible meetings where everyone says something has to be done, but no one can decide who should do it. Impress them with your work, then mention that you feel you could do more/better work if given the right opportunity…
The best type of “courtesy” interviews are the ones where you know you got the job and everyone else is just going through the motions. HR has it’s function, but is generally something that can be worked around if you put in the effort. Oh, and if you are going to play in the corporate world read Malloy’s “Live for Success”. It is not a workaholics guide to life as the title would have you believe, but more of a well researched care and feeding of HR types guide, with info on what impresses people and what doesn’t. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but it turns out ability and quality of work don’t mean much to HR.
I can’t see the harm in interviewing. If nothing else, you are honing your interview skills for when you leave over yet another HR blunder (only to leave for another company which has exactly the same HR department, only the have changes names and shirts – sorry to burst your bubble at the end there)
I can’t see the harm in interviewing. If nothing else, you are honing your interview skills for when you leave over yet another HR blunder (only to leave for another company which has exactly the same HR department, only the have changes names and shirts – sorry to burst your bubble at the end there)
Engineer Don: I already have done translation work and random other stuff for them, and I thought they were pleased… I’ll keep on volunteering to the boss, and maybe some kissing up will do the trick!
About the book, I’ll only look into it if I get stuck in the corporate world. I made what seems now to be somewhat of a mistake going the humanities route in college, into a field that doesn’t have any outlet except professor/teacher… and that’s just not me at this stage in my life. So I’m bumming off the corporate world for a bit, until I figure out what’s out there. And yes, Dilbert has been springing to mind a lot lately…
Kellibelli: Professionalism is the key. I am GREATLY enjoying figuring out how to be as discreetly rude as possible to annoying callers/employees without being unprofessional. I’m not doing so well yet, but I’m tucking away tricks by the hundreds for future reference. It is soooo satisfying!
