This interview was rather… Jarring. For me. It’s the interview that birthed this series, in fact.
I had just quit my job the week before, and a wonderfully supportive ex-colleague sent me the vacancy and encouraged me to apply.
A couple of days after I did so, I receive an email with an invitation for an interview. There are quite a number of people cc’d in the email, so I’m thinking, ”Wow. This must be serious”. I hit “Reply all” to confirm my availability as requested.
After a few minutes, there’s a revelation. Emails kept coming in with other candidates confirming their availability as well because the people cc’d in the email are also applicants like myself. I’m wondering if it’s proper – for lack of better context – that we were invited like this. But, I wave it off. It could have been an error.
The following day or so, I send an email to ask if there were any requirements from our end with regard to the aptitude test that we would be taking on the day. I receive no response.
THE INTERVIEW
On the morning of the interview, I arrive about 15 minutes early, sign in, and take a seat at the reception. The interview was scheduled for 11:00 hours. When it’s time, we’re still waiting. But, I notice a man has been going in and out of a room, probably trying to get everything ready for us.
Soon, we’re called into the room. No welcome, no apology for the delay, no introductions. Just led in and offered seats. Perhaps, not even in the army, I think. Then again, I wouldn’t know.
He starts to hand out pieces of paper. I’m closest to him in proximity on my side of the table, so when he hands me a set, I instinctively pass it on to the person next to me.
The man goes something like why did I pass it down, and that those were for me. I excuse myself, admit I had assumed they were all the same, and collect the papers back from the other lady. But, then he hands her HER papers, and they’re the same.
I laugh it off inwardly. People have strange ways of trying to assert or exercise power, or whatever that was. Whatever. It doesn’t bother me.
We’re given a time for the test and asked to begin. This is where things start to get even more awkward for me.
THE BONE OF CONTENTION
We’d been given two pieces of paper; one with the problems, and another blank one to detail our solutions. As a writer in the 21st century, if I’m not writing on my phone, I’m writing on my laptop. These days, I find myself making jokes about how I think I no longer know how to write on paper. More so if I see someone who writes neatly or with impeccable handwriting. (I admire you deeply).
So, whenever I have to write on paper for the review of others, the reluctant perfectionist in me wants it to be legible and without errors. Speak less of when it’s a test.
As I don’t have a pencil and eraser, or a spare sheet to gather and prearrange my thoughts, I turn to my phone, as I always do when I have to make notes or write pretty much anything. Except I’m absolutely wrong (kindly let me know), this is not strange in today’s age.
For example, I’ve had the honour of being in rooms with ‘important people’ a couple of times, and people take notes on their phones if they don’t have a notepad and a pen, or just because of default. Particularly if you have not been instructed otherwise, or aren’t being disrespectful.
While I’m typing away, he goes out and comes in with more candidates, seats them, and continues to watch us. Some time passes, then one of the new entries asks something like if we could use our phones. I’m not sure, I’m not exactly paying attention. So, I don’t even really hear his response.
Some seconds later… “Hey! Hello! Hello!” I look up to see what’s going on, and he’s looking at me.
“What are you doing?”
“How do you mean, please?”
“How do I mean?!” He has this look on his face like I had the nerve! Me, a common… Whatever he’s thinking.
“Yes, please. I’m doing the test…”
“You’re with your phone!”
“Oh. Yes, I’m gathering my thoughts here before I put them—”
“It’s not allowed!”
I’m shocked because I’m confused. There was no such previous instruction, and I brought out my phone and started using it right in front of him. I would point it out, but I’m more concerned with the progress I’d made on my phone at that moment. The clock was ticking.
“Okay… I have all my work here now. Can I just——?”
“It’s not allowed!!”
By who? This is not WASSCE, UME, or a professional examination. You’re not an examination body. Why is this not allowed?
I put the phone down. Mildly amused, but quite irritated. What was this rule really about? Because, besides the lack of its mention, it wasn’t grounded in any rationale I could think of. Am I supposed to have been cheating on your customised aptitude test, where I’m required to come up with original ideas? It was laughable.
Then, even if I missed this rule about phones, or chose to ignore it – which I didn’t. Which, if you think about it, I wouldn’t, because I happen to be a professional – what’s with the rudeness?
Of course, I’m already thinking this is not a place for me. The evidence I gathered based on the journey to get to this point was enough to intimate me that if I got the job, I might be strolling back in time in an environment run by rigid and dictatorial management. Fortunately, I am certainly not interested in doing such.
I finish up the test and leave the room to wait for the next stage of the interview. There, I find out that the ‘exam supervisor’ is actually their HR Manager.
Lol. Okay.
TL;DR
Just in case the story is too long for you, and you scrolled down to get the gist, this is it. I observed;
- Not a lot of thought went into sending out the invitation for the interviews. I’ve received emails from organisations that were for sure dealing with hundreds or thousands of candidates at a time. Somehow, they don’t copy everyone they’re considering for the same role or position in one email.
- A senior staff – who happened to be the HR Manager – was discourteous to strangers. Was it because they were job seekers, is it his nature, or was he having a bad morning? I could never be bothered to find out. Yet, it makes me wonder what could ‘pass’ in their office space. If you call for an interview at a certain time, and aren’t ready by then, at least convey your regrets. Because, if it were the other way round—-
- The fact that he didn’t respond to the email I sent asking for details about the interview was another discourtesy. It wasn’t a good look.
- My interesting exchange with the HR Manager got me feeling as though the structure of the establishment might be a bit too rigid. Worse still, for no good reason. I tried to imagine how change or even challenging the status quo might be received in that environment.
Your thoughts, please?
*This article was originally published on LinkedIn from my Interview series.
