The Strange World of Job Interviews

As if the agony of the whole job seeking/interview process isn't ugly and horrible enough, the bullshit you sometimes get from interviewers has the capability of making it infinitely worse.

Case in point, I responded to an inquiry posted on my women in technology list for a position that looked interesting and a good fit. I phoned the woman who posted the letter and check that the position was still available. We chatted briefl and she urged me to send in my resume, which I did.

About 10 days later I get a phone call from her saying they will be doing phone interviews and would I be available the next day. We set an appointment and I rearranged my afternoon schedule for the next day to accomodate the call. The phone interview seemed to go well and she said they would review all the phone interviews and decide which they would like to schedule for in person interviews. I would get an email letting me know what decision they'd made about me sometime the next afternoon, a Friday. Friday came and went and I assumed I was not their choice. Life goes on, tho I was a bit disappointed they had not sent me the email as promised, letting me know it was no thanks.

Monday, no email from them, I put them out of mind. I arranged to meet Astrid for lunch before she left for home in Switzerland. But, checking my email one last time before I left the house, I recieved an email asking if I could meet them on Thursday afternoon for an in person interview at their New York offices. Of course I could. I don't know if they were running late, if their first choices had declined, or they simply had no time sense about their commitments.

Thursday I showed up for the in person interview. I thought the session went well. They explained they would be interviewing all their semi-final picks and then selecting the final choices for an interview with the actual Director the position would direct report to. I was asked if I would be available to return on Friday and told they'd phone me between 7 & 8 and let me know either way. I said there was no problem, I'd be available, just phone and let me know. It was all smiles and a pleasure talking with you.

This morning, I sent them a polite post-interview thank you note. So far, no call to let me know either way. I can't imagine they meant next Friday. I'm sure they meant today. I've written them off but it's annoying they didn't bother phoning to let me know as they said they would. When I've been on the other side of the equation, I was always careful to email the applicant and let them know we appreciated their interest but had decided to select someone else. It's a simple but very important courtesy.

Perhaps I will be surprised and get a call from them yet. I won't bet the farm on it.

The Drowned and The Saved by Primo Levi

I'm reading The Drowned and The Saved by Primo Levi at the moment. Very engrossing book, lots to think about. Not at all the usual view of the death camps. More devastating for all that.