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Original poster

awkward work issue

170 replies

moreexcitingthanbegonias · 12/11/2020 20:56

I've just started a new job, and am currently in a handover period with the current postholder.

Without giving too much away for obvious reasons I was shown a document today that the panel who interviewed me used to select candidates for interview. The members of the panel shortlisted separately. The individual who shortlisted me put me down as a no because, in their words, my "english wasn't good".

TBH I was gobsmacked by this. I went over my cover letter and CV again and there were no grammatical or spelling errors at all, no weird clunky sentences, nothing. I have a first class degree in English and an MA. Of all the things that would count against me in a shortlisting process, this isn't even something I would consider.

The only thing I can think of is that I have a foreign name because my parents aren't British. But I was born and raised here. I don't even speak another language: English is my mother tongue.

Anyway maybe I'm being over sensitive but I feel upset about this now - the Director in question is my line manager and I'm worried. He gave me a 2 out of 5 on the form - and yet I was shortlisted, interviewed and given the role?!

I have got zero confidence as it is and it's taken a massive plummet tonight.

OP posts:
Original poster
moreexcitingthanbegonias · 12/11/2020 23:01

This wasn't interview feedback though. It was application shortlisting which is a different ballgame really. And I certainly shouldn't have seen the other candidates!

OP posts:
Unsure33 · 12/11/2020 23:06

Personally I think it’s more of a reflection on him than you. Why don’t you just see how the job goes and what your relationship turns out like ?

It sounds that he wrongly prejudged you then at interview he changed his mind .

rainkeepsfallingdown · 12/11/2020 23:06

From all your posts, I wonder if he was just sulking over the previous postholder leaving and was unfair towards everyone? Sounds like you've just seen the detailed feedback for your application, and not for all applicants? Some people take resignations really personally, even thought they shouldn't.

I can understand the red flag about him possibly being a secret racist if your English is perfectly fine and you're well-educated, but you have a "foreign-sounding" name. Keeping fingers crossed he's just a child who lost his favourite toy rather than a giant racist.

Try not to lose confidence in your abilities, but do keep an eye open for any dubious behaviour on his part.

WashingMachineCrisis · 12/11/2020 23:07

Hi OP. That’s so shit and is quite obviously racist. This is exactly why all applications need to be anonymous at this stage. Flowers for you. Please don’t let this racist tosspot knock your confidence.

Phoenix76 · 12/11/2020 23:08

Although I totally agree he’s wrong to make that comment he was ultimately looking at a piece of (very well written) paper, maybe even he hasn’t “mastered” the English language and misinterpreted something he’d seen. At that point, you were literally a name on paper. He has since met you and decided along with the others that you’re the right person for this job. If he’d said that after meeting you then that would be a disaster but this isn’t what happened here.
Rightly or wrongly we all judge people from newspaper articles without knowing them or their side of the story because we haven’t met them, I’m afraid that CV’s etc fall in to this category, they don’t know you and have made an incorrect judgment based on just that (words on paper). I absolutely don’t agree with any kind of discrimination but all the while humans are involved they’re going to make unfair judgments. You have since aced the interview process and secured the job for being you, don’t let this ruin it for you, I’d put money on whoever showing you this had their own motives don’t let them “win”

Allwhiteeverythin · 12/11/2020 23:08

Ah well after the update it all becomes clear.

Person you are replacing is the same person who showed you something designed to undermine you?!

She’s flexing, feels insecure about you taking over and wanted to get a little dig in. I’m very sweetly let her know you saw it, gosh what a silly mix up, I must have really impressed in the interview though in order to overcome a 2/5 THEN hit her with the side eye

stovetopespresso · 12/11/2020 23:09

op go forward not back, do the job to the best of your ability and don't worry about other people's predjudices/ hang ups, and enjoy it (and bank the monthly paycheck!) its your life that matters not theirs. honestly don't give it a second thought, don't let it take root, onwards and upwards.

Original poster
moreexcitingthanbegonias · 12/11/2020 23:10

She isn't leaving, she's going on mat leave.

I did see all the other candidates - my name was near the bottom so I didn't realise til I'd scrolled past them all that it was the wrong document.

OP posts:
grassisjeweled · 12/11/2020 23:13

So why did you get the job then?

Looking at it objectively?

The person who allowed you to see that information is not to be trusted - they did it on purpose to unsettle you - and it worked.

grassisjeweled · 12/11/2020 23:14

It's not about the OP's English -

itsovernowthen · 12/11/2020 23:15

@moreexcitingthanbegonias

It was shown to me by the person I'm replacing yes. It is a maternity cover.

The other thing that freaked me out this week is the current postholder wrote an email welcoming me to the staff team. Most staff members wrote back saying hello and welcome etc, but this director wrote back with a long gushing email about how great the current postholder is and how much she would be missed. Not a sniff of a whisper about me.

The lady going on maternity leave showed this to you to ensure you don't get too comfortable warming her seat while covering her role, by undermining you in the first instance.

grassisjeweled · 12/11/2020 23:16

email welcoming me to the staff team. Most staff members wrote back saying hello and welcome etc, but this director wrote back with a long gushing email about how great

^^

Was that the director who said your English wasn't good? It's the same person

grassisjeweled · 12/11/2020 23:17

*It's the same person?

Original poster
moreexcitingthanbegonias · 12/11/2020 23:17

Yes, the same person.

OP posts:
grassisjeweled · 12/11/2020 23:19

If I were you, I'd be so fucking shit hot in that mat leave role I'd be finding something permanent whilst she's still off. Foot in the door, op, foot in the door.

grassisjeweled · 12/11/2020 23:19

So I'd be tempted to say racial bias

itsovernowthen · 12/11/2020 23:20

The boss is showing his unconscious bias, and it sounds like an unhealthy workplace, particularly for staff who identify in any of the BAME categories.

I'd start looking for a new job if I were you, otherwise you'll be back on here inn2 weeks time, posting about another incident that was brushed off as an accident, but had made you feel uncomfortable.

itsovernowthen · 12/11/2020 23:21

*in 2 weeks

RUOKHon · 12/11/2020 23:23

I don’t think he even read your CV. I think he was probably the last of the three interview panellists to review the applications, he probably went through the pike, skim read the names and sifted out any that didn’t sound Anglo Saxon. I bet he saw yours and thought “too difficult for clients/team members/me to pronounce, she’s probably got an accent, it’s a ‘no’”, without even reading your CV.

He probably had a face on in the interview because you showed up with your RP native English and a first class English degree from a RG uni, that he hadn’t noticed during the review process, and he knew he was busted. He was shown up for not reviewing the applications properly and knew his colleagues would be putting two and two together.

Also it sounds like there is some weird preferential relationship between him and mat leave lady that you need to stay well away from.

In short, he’s a knob and you’ve done nothing wrong.

WashingMachineCrisis · 12/11/2020 23:25

The OP got the job I expect because she passed as “English enough” for the interviewer. I’m sure had she had an accent she wouldn’t have found herself in the job. OP I say again, please try not to let this affect your confidence. He really isn’t worth it. I’m sorry you have had to deal with this so early in your new workplace Flowers

callmeadoctor · 12/11/2020 23:25

I don't think that you could prove document means what you are thinking one way or another, so let it go.

Nanny0gg · 12/11/2020 23:29

@moreexcitingthanbegonias

Basically they made out it was an accident but I don't see how it could have been accidental.

Saw every other candidate as well which surely is a data protection no no.

Are they leaving or moving elsewhere in the company?
HeIsAVeryBadBoy · 12/11/2020 23:30

Oh god, this happened to me in reverse.

Somebody showed a new starter our interview notes (in which I said she wasn't right for the role). She bought it up with me and I'm sort of glad in a way. I explained my rationale and we actually ended up good pals.

I'm glad she didn't sit on it, seething away. Which is probably what I would've done.

Nanny0gg · 12/11/2020 23:30

@moreexcitingthanbegonias

She isn't leaving, she's going on mat leave.

I did see all the other candidates - my name was near the bottom so I didn't realise til I'd scrolled past them all that it was the wrong document.

Ah. Cross post.

She doesn't want someone else to have her job.

JamaicanJamboree · 12/11/2020 23:35

This is all very strange OP and I would feel upset by it too. But just use the job as a stepping stone, keep looking for something else. It sounds like this bloke is really quite weird, most likely he looked at your name and made some stupidly ignorant assumptions not based on facts.
As another PP said be shit hot at the job so they all know how good you are and what a loss you will be.
As you say the office politics are off, it also seems like he has a thing for the woman you are replacing. Count down the days until you can move onto better things!