Had Mum and Sebastian with me, so took them to Ikea to shop and off I popped to Leeds for my interview. Now, the only negative of driving was the parking situation. There just isn't a lot of it to be fair - I was lucky that I got parked on the next street to the building I needed to be in but, I didn't have any cash for the machine and then when I did get money, DUH, didn't take notes. It sounds silly but I was running late on my standards. My interview was at 2.30pm - I was running up and down the street at 2.20pm, and I like to be about 10minutes early - turns out, it wouldn't have mattered anyway in the end.
So, I got to the building, I was convinced that this was going to go great, the office was in a beautiful building with swanky doors and a swanky lift, what could go wrong? I arrived on the third floor - by lift, obviously. To be greeted by the same generic office like that of 'Tempest Elite Marketing', leather seats everywhere, a lonely fish tank trying to add 'texture' to the room and the girls working on laptops. OH GOD.
I was made to fill out an application form, asking me the same questions which were on my CV - am I the only person who is infuriated when you are made to do that? Finally at like 2.59pm I was called through, met a guy called Hugh - later found out he spells it HUW - you what? We went through to his office - he seemed like a nice chap at first. Oh how I was wrong. We're sat down and he looks through my CV and application, I am still a bit nervous.
Huw/Hugh then looks to me and asks "So, Deborah, tell me about your hobbies and interests...?" YOU WHAT, YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU WHAT I LIKE TO DO. REALLY? LIKE REALLY?
Then the best bit of all happens, he asks me this question, and I start to tell him and the ignorant ba***rd gets his BLOODY PHONE OUT! And starts to use it! At this point, I've been told I should have walked out. However, I saved that anger till I got home. He asked me a few more questions about what attracted me to the job etc, I answered them as professionally as I could - he wasn't bothered though, so why should I. He had the attitude of, "I've got to conduct another 15 of these today, I just cannot be bothered".
I left, I got the bottom of the stairs and sighed VERY loudly, I was distraught. I had driven 60 miles to Leeds, spending money I don't really have for the most ridiculous interview of my entire life. People were texting to see how it went, saw my Sister and lied to her about it, spoke to my dad and again lied about it. I was mortified and embarrassed, I lied to my best friend - I don't lie to her, ever. I've since come clean about my horrific interview in Leeds and everyone has been supportive and told me that I shouldn't feel ashamed because at the end of the day I was lead there under false pretense thinking I was interviewing for a Graduate scheme when in fact I would be pounding the pavements.
Things took a turn for the interesting the next day. I wasn't satisfied being angry, I wanted him to know so I sent his assistant;
Dear Rebecca,
Firstly, it was a pleasure to meet you yesterday, thank you for your warm welcome.
However, I wish to speak to someone higher than Hugh, the manager who interviewed me yesterday as I have some major concerns as to how he conducted himself yesterday when he interviewed me. Please send me some contact details so I can speak to someone sooner rather than later.
Many thanks again for your professional attitude yesterday,
Deborah Stevenson.
I received no reply, only a phone call from HUW. But the thing was, I didn't want to speak to him, I wanted to speak to someone above him so that pr*ck would be given a written warming or something similar. He said to me that Rebecca had forwarded him the email. I told him that he was disgusting and his attitude was deplorable and that if he had rang to invite me to second round interviews I would have told him to stuff his job. I said that I was distraught because of the money I'd spent getting there and back. I also reminded him that had I got my phone out during the interview when I was answering questions, it would have left a bad impression on him about me. And I felt that about him. The first impression I got of him was that he was an absolute prick more interested in his phone than finding a good candidate!
I spoke to my dad about my phone call with Huw who reminded me that I didn't ask to speak to him, I asked for the information of someone higher from his assistant who obviously forwarded him the email telling him to sort it before I did.
To which she received this second email from me;
Dear Miss Hammond,
I appreciate that you were yesterday in a difficult position regarding my email about my interview with Hugh. However, I never asked for him to phone me, in fact, he was the absolute last person I wanted to speak to. I asked you for the contact information of someone higher, and now I am even more driven to get this information.
If I receive another phone call, and don not get the information I want, I will include you in my letter of complaint.
I look forward to your reply.
Many thanks,
Deborah Stevenson.
I still don't have a reply.
Monday's interview was an eye opener and an absolute disaster. I've learnt from my mistakes in that respect, but it is hard to tell which companies are genuine when you look on websites such as total jobs and jobsite. Oh, and for anyone interested.... the company was called RH CLIENT SOLUTIONS - don't apply for a job with them because they're useless.
Thanks all!
Deborah :)
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