Project Manager
I have a scenario that just baffle me. This concerns my resume and an interview based on that resume. Okay, I assume that a resume is for whomever it is doing the hiring to get a good sense of you are; experience, background, qualifications.........whatever. Also the resume is a tool for the hiring manager to weed out who they feel is best for the job that they offer. Okay, I get a call from a hiring manager. Just read my resume and feel I am a good candidate so the personal one on one is being scheduled. Now when I get to the interview, the person whom I am meeting pulls out the resume and we proceed to discuss my background, experience.........whatever..........right there. During the discussion, I am usually asked questions about my previous positions, what was my most challenging project, how did I overcome certain situations affecting the schedule..........whatever. Okay, after the going back and forth talking, I am asked do I have any questions and proceed to ask. Now, at the conclusion of the interview, this person now says "I feel you are a good fit, but I have reservations because I feel you may be over qualified for the job based on your background and experience". In my mind, I say "What the &^%$#@?" So I keep my cool and just make a point as the submission of the resume being my intro so that said everything about my background. This person doing the interview than says "Oh, that is true but I feel you will not be happy here because I will not be able to pay you what you are worth!" Okay, first, it seems I am over qualified, next, I will not be happy, than they cannot pay me what I am worth. When I try to convince him otherwise, I am than told that they would feel I would take the job just for now and continue looking and may leave once I find something better. Than, he starts to try to describe the job as mundane.........as if basically downplaying the job to make me not want to take it. I said to myself "What the %$#@% is this moron talking about?" Upon leaving, I am told he would be in touch..............but I followed up and was told the job was given to someone else whom he felt would be a better fit. Now I ask, why in the hell invite someone for an interview just to tell them they may be too over qualified? They have the resume in order to review it so they do not waste their time or mine. Anyone ever have an interview this stupid?
They are still just trying to feel you out after having read your resume. To them they still need to see how they feel about you personally even though your qualifications within the contents of your resume reflect that you have the necessary experience. Its crazy but just their way of thinking/ doing things. Try not to get too disgusted or aggravated because this could affect your ability to actually get the job!
It might have been your appearance and they just used the over qualify thing to justify there actions. It could have also been what you said, I say this because sometimes you can talk to much and screw up your chances because you appear to know to much.
I feel you on that one the same thing happened to me at a job interview, before I even talk to a manager I had to take a 50 point question test that had nothing to do with anything concerning my job, and they sent me in this office room where there was a gentleman sitting at the desk observing me as I was beginning to review the test, after reviewing the tests I said to myself why in the hell did they blow up my phone and asked me to come here after they reviewed my resume but yet I don't get to talk to no one I don't get to see no one I don't get to review anyone until I take this test, I kindly said thank you very much pick myself up and move on...(_)?
Richard, Many times they have to interview a certain amount of candidates. This plus the fact that most people like to appear busy. Never confuse activity with productivity. Many times people or companies are looking for someone who is more trainable than competent. Again this goes back to the point of creating more work. Most companies have an absolutely garbage training program. They are valid in thinking this could be a stop gap job for you. They should have asked and taken you for your word. The person acted very unprofessional. Here is the main problem with this entire process. You assume that they are looking for someone who is accomplished and can bring knowledge from past experiences to the company. Most companies are looking for someone to mold and do it their way. It is usually obvious that their way has some flaws or they would not be looking for help. They don't want to change and basically are looking for a bigger hammer to force people to believe in what they do is the right way and the only way. You also make a very silly assumption that they actually took some amount of time to read and dissect your resume! They looked for bullet points. That's it! You also assume they actually give a crap about your time! Ha! Silly you! Just to chime in most jobs are mundane. They may not be at first but all become very habit like. No you should not have been called in. Will this act be repeated? I believe so. If he did say he could not pay you what you are worth then just say then you are getting a bargain or more for your money. Anyway most candidates will move on and that argument had no value. Some people work just enough to not get fired! I think he was just that type of person. There is also the fact that you were probably smarter and more knowledgeable than he was. That is a hard hurdle to clear. Good luck! I am trying to change this stuff though!
It could be some external factor not related to your resume or background.
I recently applied for a contract technical writing gig. The company that recruited me (company A) was serving a client (company B) who was subbing my services out to yet another client (company C). In order to get the job I had to pass a telephone interview with company C. I was being hired to document and create business process maps for one of company C's affiliates (company D). During the interview I was straight up and told the interviewer that I had never done business process documentation but I done something similar by creating process maps for trouble ticket escalation procedures. I was selected over four other candidates because my experience was the closest to what they were looking for. After two days at the Company D job site the Company C Program Manager fired me before I had even had a chance to interview the subject matter experts to get the information needed to generate the process maps. His reason was that I didn't know their business processes.
I am a retired engineer and I am very senior. I think my elderly physical appearance was more of a factor than not knowing their business processes (which BTW they didn't even know).
Their attitudes during interview would not want the job. What do they expect paying cheap labor of course you will take the job while looking for a better paying job with benefits. Hang in there a better opportunity will open up.
Maybe you use the word okay too often.
I think they should pay you for wasting your time! It was very rude and unprofessional of them.
It happens often companies invite people for interview but have someone else already for the job but its policy they must interview be positive its going to come