How to… write a complaint about a bad interview. Yes, you’re actually allowed to do that you know!
11th July 2007
Manager
NastyArse Recruitment Agency
Eagle Street BrisVegas
To Whom It May Concern:
Hello my name is borysSNORC and I attended your Brisbane office of the NastyArse Recruitment Agency today for an interview with one of your representatives, Snotty Brigit, with a view to signing up as a candidate with your agency. I was specifically interested in some vacancies you are currently handling for the Equally Despised Goliath Co and had a prearranged 9.30am interview with Brigit to discuss whether these roles might be a suitable match for my skills.
As is my habit, I arrived 15 minutes early for my interview, whereupon I was handed a privacy statement to read and directed to wait in the reception area. I waited until 9.45am at which time the receptionist apologized for the delay and went to see what happened to Brigit. Brigit at this point did come out to greet me, and informed me that she had double booked herself and lead me to a room to complete some testing on Microsoft Word, Excel and a typing test. When making the appointment I had let Brigit know that I was required at work by 11am – she did not at this time indicate that I would need to allow time for this testing. I completed the testing in as short a time space as possible, and as such did not manage to give the tests my full attention or perhaps to score as well as I might have were I not now starting to feel pressed for time.
On completion of the tests, I returned to the reception and informed the receptionist, Jessica (who by the way, spent most of the time I was waiting in the foyer earlier complaining about how overworked she was, and then continuously wasted time on informal personal chat with her workmate on the front counter) that I had completed the testing, and enquired as to whether Brigit would have time to discuss the available roles with me today or would I have to come back.
I have no knowledge of what the receptionist, Jessica, told Brigit on the phone about my enquiry or my demeanor, but when Brigit came back out to the reception area to see me, and I let her know that I was expected at work shortly, she was short and curt with me. She seemed to be under the impression that I was annoyed, which I certainly was not, at this point. Brigit took me to an interview room and proceeded to lecture me about allowing for some flexibility in the workplace, stating that things like double booked appointments will happen, and that I needed to allow for this sort of thing. She also told me that she felt I had trouble taking directions, when I mentioned that I perhaps hadn’t done so well on the tests, as perhaps I could have, given that I had rushed through them. I was really confused as to why she being so aggressive and at this point, I interrupted her to ask why she was under the impression that I was annoyed. She ignored my question, berated me for interrupting her, and again mentioned that I should be more flexible with my time. I told her I wasn’t concerned about the time being kept waiting and that I wasn’t even trying to solicit an apology, just that I had been trying to inform her that I had a commitment to my current employer not to arrive late, and was therefore now on a truncated timetable due to the time spent testing. Brigit now indicated that my lack of flexibility would inhibit her ability to find me an appropriate position! To which I responded that were I to be employed by your agency, this situation would never arise as I would be at the company’s disposal and surely she wouldn’t expect me to disregard my commitments to my current employer…
As you can see the situation was escalating, and I have to admit to being confused over what had started this. Brigit continued to be combative and aggressive with me, stating that I was now wasting even more time, and she wanted to proceed with signing up the paperwork. At this point, I indicated that it seemed a waste of time continuing, as it was obvious that she had somehow gained such a negative impression of me that I didn’t feel she would adequately recommend me to any prospective employer. Brigit’s disposition seemed to alter a bit at this, and she remarked that she was impressed by my resume and still wanted to sign me up. But by point, I was so bemused by her conduct throughout this entire episode that I did not wish to continue the process to sign with your agency.
And all this, came from a person who I had met for less than 30 seconds while being led to a computer to do some tests. I could not believe the absolute total lack of professionalism from this representative of your company. I have signed up with several agencies in the past, and have never encountered such discourteous, disrespectful and downright rude behavior as I experienced at your firm today. Brigit treated with me as if from a position of perceived superiority which is not only bad mannered, but entirely inappropriate. At no time did Brigit adequately apologize for having double booked the appointment time. I was so disgusted at her unexpected and unwarranted, pugilistic behavior that I left feeling quite upset and wondering how someone like this could possibly be responsible for matching people to customer service oriented roles, when her own customer service skills were so appalling.
I come from a wide and varied employment background and in the current employment climate, would likely to be an easy placement for an agency such as yours. I bring this matter, of my rather distressing treatment, to your attention in the hope that something might be done to avoid this sort of interaction happening with your prospective candidates in the future.
Regards
borySNORC
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A job hunting we will go huh? Don’t you just love a day that ends in a written complaint of some sort? It just warms the cockles doesn’t it? Now just to scam the personal email address from Brigit’s manager out of the dopey receptionist tomorrow…. hmmm and maybe a regional or state manager or two…
UPDATE: Heard from a friend who works for the same firm in a different office… the snooty Ms Brigit was sacked after receipt of this complaint. Apparently, it wasn’t her first less than stellar performance with prospective clients. Suck pus, bitch!
