The length of time to get a job

[Corrado]

Don't underestimate the power of HR, however nice, to make a prize co<k-up of things. We can interview candidates and agree with HR that the guy is the right personn for the job. Then they go off, sling things over the fence to the outsourced recruitment company who do things strictly within the limit of their contractual terms and so the wait begins for all the correct paperwork to be in place. As a result, someone I might have expected to start on a project within a couple of weeks now shows up five weeks later.

Don't despair; there's frustration on both sides of the HR barrier .

[This is entirely fictional .]

 

[st4]

Their new excuse is that they misadvertised the job (they put up the wrong job grade) on the website so are re-advertising it - probably due to "internal regulations". I was told this wouldn't harm my application in anyway (I would hope so after 3 interviews).

I found the advert on their careers site and emailed the HR contact I've be dealing with and he told me this was one of the "glitches".

Do they not check their work before submitting it onto the web. School boy error or cut backs?

 

[PXW]

Their new excuse is that they misadvertised the job (they put up the wrong job grade) on the website so are re-advertising it - probably due to "internal regulations". I was told this wouldn't harm my application in anyway (I would hope so after 3 interviews).

I found the advert on their careers site and emailed the HR contact I've be dealing with and he told me this was one of the "glitches".

Do they not check their work before submitting it onto the web. School boy error or cut backs?

I'm afraid that really doesn't look good. I could understand the need for internal advertising if they are making cutbacks, but this is presumably on an external site (hence you were able to see it); from an external perspective, grades don't mean anything - it's all about salary etc. And the comment that this was 'one of the glitches' - how many are there??!

It looks to me like they are stringing you along. In your shoes I would definitely be looking around elsewhere, with a mental attitude that if this one comes through, then fine, but if it doesn't, well also fine because I'm already halfway down the road somewhere else.

 

[st4]

I'm afraid that really doesn't look good. I could understand the need for internal advertising if they are making cutbacks, but this is presumably on an external site (hence you were able to see it); from an external perspective, grades don't mean anything - it's all about salary etc. And the comment that this was 'one of the glitches' - how many are there??!

It looks to me like they are stringing you along. In your shoes I would definitely be looking around elsewhere, with a mental attitude that if this one comes through, then fine, but if it doesn't, well also fine because I'm already halfway down the road somewhere else.

What have they to gain by wasting my time, why not just say you're not successful and that we've found someone better. In my mind by changing the job grade and re-advertising it for 2 weeks they maybe are looking for another candidate. Just because the wrong job grade was put on the web doesn't surely mean they have to readvertise...

I will begin my hunt for another job....

 

[crockers]

Wrong grade? Too high a grade or too low? Has the job spec changed? Have you seen the new advert? Do you need to re-apply? Has salary changed?

My experience of HR is that they are petrified of getting the company sued so will cross every i and dot every t twice and then once more to make sure.......then get it wrong.

Good luck

 

[C240Sport97]

I think they are reviewing whether they need to hire externally or whether they can find an internal candidate

 

[st4]

Wrong grade? Too high a grade or too low? Has the job spec changed? Have you seen the new advert? Do you need to re-apply? Has salary changed?

My experience of HR is that they are petrified of getting the company sued so will cross every i and dot every t twice and then once more to make sure.......then get it wrong.

Good luck

Original posted as Executive grade 4, it was meant to be Executive grade 3. I don't know what that means but their HR team are aware of my salary at my previous place. Other than that that job spec hasn't changed. I called their HR contact and he told me I didn't need to resubmit my "profile"

I saw the amended ad on thier careers website so emailed the hr fella asking him if this was the glitch. His reply was yes, one of them, but there was no need for me to apply for this role as they have my details/profile.

 

[Biscuit]

What have they to gain by wasting my time, why not just say you're not successful and that we've found someone better. In my mind by changing the job grade and re-advertising it for 2 weeks they maybe are looking for another candidate. Just because the wrong job grade was put on the web doesn't surely mean they have to readvertise...

I will begin my hunt for another job....

sorry to hear this sounds like a right pain...

wise man once say ...work to live don't live to work

good luck with the search

 

[ShinyF1]

Would the death of Frank McGarahan be a cause of these delays? As other have said maybe he was the "high up" authority that needed to sign off on the appoinment?

This is what I was going to suggest might have thrown a spanner in the works - what a tragic event. Even so such an organisation would have a succcession plan.

My company has just been put through the mill - our group has decided to close us, but are trading out our commitments. We have put the staff on notice of consultation and have just completed the keep/lose exercise. We had some freelance staff who I [regrettably] had to let go as soon as it happened to ensure that the redundancies could actually happen. Not a pleasant time.

I have just taken another job after five interviews - now that's thorough, but no timewasting at all. Second interview to offer on the doormat took 3 weeks.

In your case *** I can't imagine a grading structure would be that rigidly adhered to in a private sector organisation - but there is little excuse for them not being straight with you from the start.

Good luck

Sean

 

[DITTRICH]

Look for another job.
Don't hold your breath with this one.
The re-advertisement at a lower grade could be for any one of a number of reasons. However, it does mean the pool of potential applicants just got much bigger. My 0.02c is they think they can get away with employing someone cheaper, maybe an internal redeployment, maybe external, who knows.
If it's any consolation, I can't stand the kind of treatment your're enduring, and have never treated any applicant in this way. Unfortunately, the world is full of so many people like this. I do all my hiring myself rather than involve other parts of my company.
Best of Luck
Les

 

[jaymanek]

I know in any council jobs, they have to advertise internally as well as externally for any position for a minimum of a month before any hires are made. if they dont recruit internally, they have to have good reasons for it!

 

[neilrr]

What have they to gain by wasting my time, why not just say you're not successful and that we've found someone better. In my mind by changing the job grade and re-advertising it for 2 weeks they maybe are looking for another candidate. Just because the wrong job grade was put on the web doesn't surely mean they have to readvertise...

I will begin my hunt for another job....

What have they got to lose?

 

[st4]

What have they got to lose?

Bugger all, unless they don't want to "risk losing me" but aren't entirely sure either. I think from their point of view they could have had the successful candidate started sooner, it came apparent in the interview the director wanted to fill his post ASAP so he won't be pleased with HR. I was told by HR I was singled out as "the strongest candidate" so on that basis they'll surely want me (or someone else if they've found better) starting ASAP.

 

[mattc]

Bugger all, unless they don't want to "risk losing me" but aren't entirely sure either. I think from their point of view they could have had the successful candidate started sooner, it came apparent in the interview the director wanted to fill his post ASAP so he won't be pleased with HR. I was told by HR I was singled out as "the strongest candidate" so on that basis they'll surely want me (or someone else if they've found better) starting ASAP.

Any way to approach the director who wants to fill the post ASAP directly? Maybe ask them to ascertain what is "really" happening internally? S/he might respect the directness of the request and find out. As you say, what do you have to lose?

 

[ShinyF1]

Good idea - in my recent discussions the approach was made by an agency, but all specific dealings were between me and prospective MD.

Cut out the middle man

 

[st4]

Good idea - in my recent discussions the approach was made by an agency, but all specific dealings were between me and prospective MD.

Cut out the middle man

I will try this and report back...

 

[MBK]

I'd love to know whats going on. Three interviews and not to get anything will be incredibly upsetting given that they told me I was the "strongest candidate" and I was given the impression I was "going to receive the paperwork and all the formalities".

Am I the victim of a school boy error in the HR desk? I don't know of any redundancies in barclays wealth at the moment. I just want in, its the oppertunity of a life time career wise.

I also had 3 interviews at one place (internet fund raising company . position IT Admin) and was told i was the best candiadate there but in the end they turned around and said the position was no longer required, bit crap when they call you in saying we need you to start ASAP but oh well thats life. luckily a better job come in afterwards and alls well so far. Hope it all works out for you.

 

[vijilants]

If I were you, id start lookin elsewhere. The way the banking sector is at the moment, things are changing on an hourly basis, and when it comes to staff, it is for the worst.

I have a friend working in Barclays at Canary Wharf as a manager and he has been told to get rid of 40 people !!!!!!

 

[abdulclk230]

Unlucky to hear that mate, good luck with the job hunt. I'm a former Lehman employee and I was frantically looking around. Luckily it paid off and ended up with three offers, one of which I'm pretty keen on, but it took me seven interviews to get it.

Good luck again.

if you are looking at banks, the following are hiring:
Barclays, RBS, Standard Charttered and JPM

 

[st4]

Result after being told they had misadvertised it is that they are withdrawing the post due to "turbulent market conditions" and they won't be recruiting in that area for some time.

Thankfully an Agency has come up trumps for me (again) and I am starting a temp contract at National Australia Group on Monday - just as my insurance contract comes to an end today. The rate of pay ain't great, but its a job and given this economic climate thats a very good thing.

I am dissappointed about Barclays wealth as it was a chance to get into an industry I really wanted too, but life goes on.