Job Interview: kept waiting

Monday, November 23rd, 2009 - employment, job application, job interview

Job Interview: kept waiting

Graham, an engineer asks: What do you do when the employer kept you waiting? You waited patiently for your interview. The PA told you the person in charge is out for a meeting and will be back. After 30 mins, there is no sight of them. You checked with the PA and she said she couldn’t reach them. Do you continue to wait? Why?

In answer:
Great question, which appears simple – but there are many drivers and hence outcomes:

• How important is this job/employer to you?
• How important are you to this person/company?
• Were you applying against an advert, your/their own direct approach, or an introduction?

The great thing about failure in organisations is that it shows you how they work at the worst level. How good are they at coping/recovery and most importantly communication?

You have to accept that things and crisis happen in life: it can not always be planned for and perfect. But, it is in answering the first question (the compelling need to stay), and the second question (could I work in a place that handles this amount of crisis in this way?), that tells you whether you have social fit with the organisation, and hence want to work there.

Once you have concluded that the answer to the second question is no, then leave when ever you want to. While the answer to the first remains compelling enough, and the second unanswered, stay until they go home.

Good Luck!

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3 Responses to “Job Interview: kept waiting”

1. Tweets that mention Job Interview: kept waiting | Professional CV Writing - CV4.biz -- Topsy.com Says:
   November 23rd, 2009 at 1:00 pm

   [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ian R McAllister, cv4biz. cv4biz said: socialmedian: Job Interview: kept waiting http://bit.ly/5wzkzW [...]

2. uberVU - social comments Says:
   November 23rd, 2009 at 4:17 pm

   Social comments and analytics for this post…

   This post was mentioned on Twitter by ianrmcallister: RT @tweetmeme Job Interview: kept waiting http://cv4.biz/job-interview-kept-waiting/...

3. paul Says:
   December 3rd, 2009 at 6:21 am

   Thank You – excellent advice as always!

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