Opinions Needed: Strange Job Interview

[Luv Bunnies]

My DH has been out of work for almost a year and has been dilligently sending out resumes without much response. Last Monday, he was excited to get a call from a hiring manager who said his resume was "impressive." They talked for about 20 minutes on the phone and the guy said he would call back by Wednesday if they decided to schedule him for an in-person interview. The same guy called on Wednesday and said HR would be contacting him for an interview which they did on Thursday. The interview was scheduled for yesterday (Friday) at 3:00 p.m. So far, so good!

So he went for the interview and saw the HR person first. She gave him a cognitive test, scored it and told him he got 100 percent! Smart guy! She then told him he'd be meeting with 3 people: Adam, Ken and Shari. She took him to Adam's office. He's the guy who had called on the phone earlier in the week. DH said the talk with Adam went really well. He felt he answered the questions well and asked some good questions about the job and the company. Adam seemed interested, nodded and smiled during the interview. They talked for just over an hour. By this time it was close to 4:30 since he spent about 25 minutes with the HR person.

So then, Adam says, "Let's go see if Ken's ready to see you." So DH follows Adam down the hall toward Ken's office. DH can see the name on the door up ahead but can't see whether or not Ken is in his office. Suddenly, Adam stops, turns to him and says, "Well, I guess we're done for today. We'll be in touch." DH was taken aback a little but said, "Oh, OK." Adam walked him to the front desk so he could sign out and turn in his visitor's badge. They shook hands and DH thanked him for his time and left.

What do you make of that? Perhaps it was getting late, Ken wasn't in his office so Adam decided to continue the interview next week? If that's the case, why didn't Adam say, "Oh, looks like Ken's not here so we'll have to reschedule?" And what about Shari? Adam never said anything about meeting with her. Perhaps DH said something that Adam didn't like or he immediately knew he wasn't a good fit for the company and didn't feel the need to continue the interview process? If that was the case, wouldn't he at least let the other people meet him and give their impressions?

So what do you all think? DH knows now that he should have said something right away. I would have said in a very nice way, "Oh, so you don't need me to meet with the other people today?" Hopefully that would have spurred Adam to give a little more explanation than, "I guess we're done for today."

Is there any hope that things went well and he will get called back next week or should we assume that ship has sailed and move on? By the way, DH is very qualified for the job based on what Adam told him about it. The way the interview ended is just so confusing.

 

[Hillbeans]

My first thought was that your DH's interview ran late and Ken had another candidate in his office and didn't want to make an awkward scene?

I scheduled interviews in one of my past positions and often i'd run them 30 minutes back-to-back per management request, not really factoring in time for delays.

I would have your DH send along a Thank You note and hope for the best.

I recently got a new job but had been interviewing for 4+ months so I understand what you are going through. It's brutal out there, but the ball unfortunately is really in their court. Good Luck!

 

[minniecarousel]

Yeah, awkward, but I'm sure Adam has his reasons (maybe Ken had someone else in his office - not necessarily another interviewee). Kinda rough since he has to wait all weekend, but he could call on Monday to reschedule the rest of the interview. I agree with the thank you note to Adam. Being out of work is so stressful!

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Okay, my immediate thought is that Ken was with someone he shouldn't have been with (ie... mistress?) and that accounted for the abrupt change in Adam's demeanor.

Sorry... I have a vivid imagination

 

[sunshine1178]

My first thought was that your DH's interview ran late and Ken had another candidate in his office and didn't want to make an awkward scene?

I scheduled interviews in one of my past positions and often i'd run them 30 minutes back-to-back per management request, not really factoring in time for delays.

I would have your DH send along a Thank You note and hope for the best.

I recently got a new job but had been interviewing for 4+ months so I understand what you are going through. It's brutal out there, but the ball unfortunately is really in their court. Good Luck!

Either another candidate, or the person who doesn't know yet that he/she is being replaced. We've run into that in our office with employees and vendors. It's awkward all around. Like, "hey do you mind leaving down these back steps, and don't make eye contact with anyone in the parking lot?"

 

[kimblebee]

Okay, my immediate thought is that Ken was with someone he shouldn't have been with (ie... mistress?) and that accounted for the abrupt change in Adam's demeanor.

Sorry... I have a vivid imagination

That was my first thought too

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, my immediate thought is that Ken was with someone he shouldn't have been with (ie... mistress?) and that accounted for the abrupt change in Adam's demeanor.

Sorry... I have a vivid imagination

Like, maybe, in a compromising position with Shari?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Like, maybe, in a compromising position with Shari?

That's got to be it! That would make them both unavailable!!!!!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Like, maybe, in a compromising position with Shari?

exactly where my thoughts ran as well

 

[juligrl]

exactly where my thoughts ran as well

Oh my, I'm not alone! That's how I ended the story too!

 

[disykat]

Either another candidate, or the person who doesn't know yet that he/she is being replaced. We've run into that in our office with employees and vendors. It's awkward all around. Like, "hey do you mind leaving down these back steps, and don't make eye contact with anyone in the parking lot?"

this was my first thought too, but I'm getting a kick out of the Ken and Shari speculation/

 

[ahutton]

That was my first thought too... Too many TV shows, right?

The other thought is maybe someone was being let go at that moment in Ken's office? You know, don't bring in a new candidate in the middle of someone being terminated?

 

[MrsPete]

My DH has been out of work for almost a year and has been dilligently sending out resumes without much response. Last Monday, he was excited to get a call from a hiring manager who said his resume was "impressive." They talked for about 20 minutes on the phone and the guy said he would call back by Wednesday if they decided to schedule him for an in-person interview. The same guy called on Wednesday and said HR would be contacting him for an interview which they did on Thursday. The interview was scheduled for yesterday (Friday) at 3:00 p.m. So far, so good!

So he went for the interview and saw the HR person first. She gave him a cognitive test, scored it and told him he got 100 percent! Smart guy! She then told him he'd be meeting with 3 people: Adam, Ken and Shari. She took him to Adam's office. He's the guy who had called on the phone earlier in the week. DH said the talk with Adam went really well. He felt he answered the questions well and asked some good questions about the job and the company. Adam seemed interested, nodded and smiled during the interview. They talked for just over an hour. By this time it was close to 4:30 since he spent about 25 minutes with the HR person.

So then, Adam says, "Let's go see if Ken's ready to see you." So DH follows Adam down the hall toward Ken's office. DH can see the name on the door up ahead but can't see whether or not Ken is in his office. Suddenly, Adam stops, turns to him and says, "Well, I guess we're done for today. We'll be in touch." DH was taken aback a little but said, "Oh, OK." Adam walked him to the front desk so he could sign out and turn in his visitor's badge. They shook hands and DH thanked him for his time and left.

What do you make of that? Perhaps it was getting late, Ken wasn't in his office so Adam decided to continue the interview next week? If that's the case, why didn't Adam say, "Oh, looks like Ken's not here so we'll have to reschedule?" And what about Shari? Adam never said anything about meeting with her. Perhaps DH said something that Adam didn't like or he immediately knew he wasn't a good fit for the company and didn't feel the need to continue the interview process? If that was the case, wouldn't he at least let the other people meet him and give their impressions?

So what do you all think? DH knows now that he should have said something right away. I would have said in a very nice way, "Oh, so you don't need me to meet with the other people today?" Hopefully that would have spurred Adam to give a little more explanation than, "I guess we're done for today."

Is there any hope that things went well and he will get called back next week or should we assume that ship has sailed and move on? By the way, DH is very qualified for the job based on what Adam told him about it. The way the interview ended is just so confusing.

You're right, that's an odd situation.

At this point, since he needs to send a thank you note to Adam, Ken, and Shari anyway, I'd suggest that he conclude that with, "I look forward to meeting with Ken, who was busy on the day I came in for my intial interview". He has nothing to lose by saying that.