Rude Job Interviewers

[Clois4eva89]

I recently experienced a rude encounter with a hiring manager at a local shopping mall for JC Penneys. The way how it all started was the day before I checked my cell phone for messages (had it on the charger). I recieved three messages from a the hiring manager for the store. Asking if I was still seeking employement I call back the next morning. Because the store was already closed for the evening I apologized and explained why I missed her call.

I asked if this was for a job interview and she said yes was scheduled for it later in the afternoon.It was located outside my town so when I arrived early to show I wanted the job. She reconized me because I had been interviewed by her before 4 or 5 months ago. That when it went down hill she asked what happened the last time I tried getting employement there.I explained when I called in that I was told the store manager didn't pick me for a third interview.

So then she went on to lie saying 'oh i'm sorry to have wasted your time having you come up here.I was only calling people to scout for interviews,and since I already know about you.There was no reason to call you up here to do that.' Then she basicly put the blame on me like I should've known better and explained to her who I was. If it wasn't an actual interview then why did she say that it was on the phone?

Then she asked the stupid question of 'why would you want to reapply again if you were turned down before?'. Without hesitation I responded with complete honesty 'because I want to work here'. The rudest part of the conversation is she actually said to me 'you shouldn't apply here anymore'. Last time I checked it's my right if I want to seek employement somewhere I can.

So my question here is were any of my rights violated,can I file a complaint and if so how? I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this issue with other companies seeking work?

[RobMcC]

I don't know if your rights where violated but that woman is a *****. Just saying.

[Clois4eva89]

I wanted to tell her off but I just stayed polite thinking someone else might see my application.Right before I left she wrote on the back of my job app: is persistent. Now I have no clue if she meant that as a compliment or as another rude jab. Nothing would give me greater satisfaction than if she lost her job.Doesn't what she did violate the EEO actually advising someone to not apply at a store in the future?

[LittleMonster]

Theres nothing you can really do, she is the manager afterall. The hassle involved would be more than what you would gain. Just forget about it.

----- Added 2 Minutes later -----

I've actually had two interviews in the past were i ended up arguing with the person doing the employing, lol. I never got those jobs....:S

I left saying, if you're the type of perosn im going to be working under, you can stick your job!

[27CDruid]

Write her a letter, criticising her demeanour but without being rude. Write it in a professional way just to show her up for the lack of professionalism in how she treated you.

Alternatively, you could send a complaint to her superiors. Don't make it silly or threatening. Just describe what had happened.

Option 1, you have nothing to lose. Option 2 may jeopardise your chances of employment with the chain but would do more damage to her.

[KSiteTV]

I agree with 27CDruid. There's no excuse for that kind of rudeness.

[Atomic girl]

I would write a letter to corporate and tell them your tale. It may very well be she has done this type of thing before and corporate has seen the results of it but didn't know why they were seeing the results they have. For example, maybe they have seen a decline in qualified people applying to jobs at this JCPenney and they have no idea why. Your letter might explain to corporate why the problem exists, and they might be grateful to you for pointing it out. You have nothing to lose at this point but the time to write the letter and the stamp.

[Smallville_Angel]

Write her a letter, criticising her demeanour but without being rude. Write it in a professional way just to show her up for the lack of professionalism in how she treated you.

Alternatively, you could send a complaint to her superiors. Don't make it silly or threatening. Just describe what had happened.

Option 1, you have nothing to lose. Option 2 may jeopardise your chances of employment with the chain but would do more damage to her.

I would strongly advise you against writing a letter, no matter how politely it is worded, as this can easily be handed around and possibly end up in the hands of another possible future employer. This could cast you in bad light with any future employers if they are aware of the fact you have criticised someone for the way an interview was conducted. I also think that option two might not be best. As per the old saying "people talk" and you never know who this might get back to. Say this woman was to leave the company in the future and you wished to seek employment there again. If your complaint is on permanent record, it may not fair well for you.

That said, they way you were treated is completely unfair and unprofessional, and yes, I would be miffed if I was in your position, but sometimes I think we need to know when making our complaints heard by the appropriate people actually won't work in our favour, and unfortunately for you I believe this might be one such case.

[27CDruid]

I would strongly advise you against writing a letter, no matter how politely it is worded, as this can easily be handed around and possibly end up in the hands of another possible future employer. This could cast you in bad light with any future employers if they are aware of the fact you have criticised someone for the way an interview was conducted. I also think that option two might not be best. As per the old saying "people talk" and you never know who this might get back to. Say this woman was to leave the company in the future and you wished to seek employment there again. If your complaint is on permanent record, it may not fair well for you.

Keep your identity anonymous then. The interviewer will still know it was you who made the complaint but your name is unlikely going to be attached to the file.

[Atomic girl]

A letter is a permanent record, so if you do write it, be sure it is completely factual (do not include any of your conclusions, only indisputable facts) and contains nothing you wouldn't want seen by others. Also, shame on that hiring manager for not keeping track of people that were interviewed before. If she didn't want to set up interviews for people that had been interviewed before, she should have looked over her records - it was less than a year ago, and it is part of her job. You are not the first person to reapply to a new job opening at the same company. Most companies will keep resumes/applications for some set time, and after that they toss them, qualified or not, it's just too much to keep and any qualified person has most likely moved on.