To think this was really rude of my Manager

[user1498221998]

So today myself and another Manager attended a Manager's meeting. There was a young lady there that interviewed with us in September. She had really good experience and seemed a lovely lady but she fell apart in the interview. Really nervous and didn't answer the questions well. In fairness we didn't try our hardest to help her in anyway and we just brought the interview to a swift end after realising she wasn't of the standard required. When we called to reject her we explained that we didn't feel she had proven her competence and we hadn't seen evidence that she could complete the job. We then gave the job to a candidate who excelled in interview.

At the meeting the young lady was there. Our Manager congratulated her on her 'new job' and asked her to explain how she got this new position. She explained that she interviewed with us and was unsuccessful but the person chosen failed their probation so she was offered the chance to re apply and she interviewed the best on the day and was offered the role. She explained that she was delighted to be offered the position.

Our Manager then said 'the job went to the right person in the end' and ' I bet you're as smug as a bug today aren't you'. The young lady then said 'Not going to lie I am' and laughed.

The Manager than told her to 'Enjoy every minute' and she hopes 'two people in this room are eating humble pie this morning'.

She did rubbish in the interview. How is that our faul? AIBU to think this whole exchange was rather rude?

I don't think the Manager rates your interview technique. Be better if they acted on that officially and organised recruitment training but I can see their point.

I think the off part of all this is the you didnt try and help the candiate, despite knowing her nerves had got to her.

Then brought the interview to a swift close. You didnt give her the chance to recover, to settle in to it or help her at all. Thats really awful.

You picked someone based purely on ability to perform in an interview.

The other manager was making a joke. Probably trying to make the new woman feel welcome and making her feel at ease.

You clearly did pick the wrong person. Wether this person is right, only time will tell. But the person you picked was wrong.

Your manager thinks you didnt perform well in the interview. Thats something you need to deal with. Speak to your manager tell her you wish she had come back to you with the feedback and she what she says.

Unprofessional to do anything other than welcome and ask the person to introduce themselves.

For me the main issue here is that the whole thing happened without your knowledge. If you were involved in recruiting for this role, how come you had no idea this was happening until this 'young lady' was physically right in front of you. That's what I would have issue with.

Now the bit where you say 'we didn't try to help her', well, why not? So you recognise she had the relevant experience but nerves got the better of her at that point... You went for the 'shiny' candidate, it backfired, lesson learned.