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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Surprise Interview: done thing?

41 replies

IsThisTheDoneThingNow · 26/09/2017 16:55

I am sitting on the sofa eating a sweet potato when I get a call from a number I don't recognise. It's so-and-so in HR from this-and-that company, am I free? Well, I am keen on a job at this-and-that, so I say 'yes!', thinking perhaps we are about to book in my interview date.

No. She goes on to FULLY interview me on the call. So I have no notes, nothing in front of me, no time to prepare, lap top out of reach and off, but I have to answer proper interview style questions. I think it goes well, but I am concerned and wish I had more time. I mean, I was literally just watching Peep Show and eating a potato, then suddenly talking about my weaknesses and most successful career moments. I've also had no other interviews yet, so no 'stock' answers prepared.

Point is - is this now the done thing? AIBU to think that this isn't very cool? It makes me think she is just calling a list of people, rather than bothering to set up appointments for calls, but I haven't job hunted for a while so I could be completely wrong and this could all be reasonable.

(As a side note, she actually called me back two hours later to tell me I hadn't got the job as didn't have enough experience. Which is hilarious as firstly, you have my CV love, and secondly, I do. So now I am wondering if I just did badly...which again, no time to prepare!)

OP posts:
Believeitornot · 26/09/2017 16:57

That's only happened to me with agencies not with companies direct.

Are you registered with an agency? How did she get your details.

Original poster
IsThisTheDoneThingNow · 26/09/2017 17:00

I applied for the job directly on their website, so no, not registered with an agency

OP posts:
TheSparrowhawk · 26/09/2017 17:02

That is seriously odd behaviour. I wouldn't work for a company that did that.

wellyclad · 26/09/2017 17:04

watching Peep Show and eating a potato

one of the most random things I've read on here in a while!

Agreed, this only happened with me with agencies in the past, some of the agencies are more like sales people and come across overly pushy.
When I had a proper telephone interview with the company it was scheduled for a time and date etc.

Original poster
IsThisTheDoneThingNow · 26/09/2017 17:09

TheSparrowhawk I am glad you've said this as I felt the same. I was thinking they are morons, but wondering if I thought that just because I didn't get put through to the next round.

But now I think they are morons again.

OP posts:
Ozzde · 26/09/2017 17:11

An initial telephone interview then follow up face to face does seem to be a thing with some companies now. I always check out glassdoor interview section to see what their usual process is.

RoboticSealpup · 26/09/2017 17:12

One sweet potato is a rather odd snack. Grin

But yes, that was very weird what they did.

Original poster
IsThisTheDoneThingNow · 26/09/2017 17:15

Ozzde I get that people have telephone interviews, it was more that it was out of the blue! I will look on glassdoor though, that's a good tip, thanks

OP posts:
MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 26/09/2017 17:16

My company does this when they've got a lot of applicants - it's not a full interview though, more of a preliminary one to weed out those who don't fit because of hours they want/can work. They do check if it's convenient to ask a few question first. I'd be really miffed if someone did that to me, I'm not good on the phone!

Slimthistime · 26/09/2017 17:18

I think that's extremely poor - they have no idea what you were doing.

if they can't even fix a time for a telephone interview, goodness knows how they run the place!

SchadenfreudePersonified · 26/09/2017 17:28

I was literally just watching Peep Show and eating a potato

This forum gets more and more thrilling by the day!

You're living The Dream, girl! Grin

Original poster
IsThisTheDoneThingNow · 26/09/2017 17:30

SchadenfreudePersonified hahaha, yes, the glamorous life of one in-between-jobs. If only I was rich, I could do that all day.

OP posts:
sugarplumbum2 · 26/09/2017 17:32

Once I realised it was a full on interview, I’d have said, look I’m sorry but right now isn’t convenient, could I call you back later/first thing tomorrow?

Slimthistime · 26/09/2017 17:32

I think posters are missing a key element here

this was not just a potato.

it was a sweet potato Grin

OP, if it was an M&S sweet potato, then I bow to you. Most deeply.

TroelsLovesSquinkies · 26/09/2017 17:34

Stop answering the phone that was your first mistake! If I don't recognize the number they'll leave a message if it's important.
I think that was a horrible sneaky way to interview you.

Original poster
IsThisTheDoneThingNow · 26/09/2017 17:35

Slimthistime Yes, I didn't want to point it out but it was, in fact, a sweet potato.

Sad to say it was from Sainsbury's.

OP posts:
cornflakegirl · 26/09/2017 17:39

I had this, while driving back from holiday. Definitely unprepared! Not quite a full interview, but a couple of competency questions, and then asked my salary expectations! Was not happy when I said that they were in line with the advertised salary bracket. Didn't even get a call back to say that I wouldn't get an actual interview... I'm seeing it as dodging a bullet ;)

AngelaTwerkel · 26/09/2017 17:41

"Stop answering the phone that was your first mistake!"

I don't think it's a mistake to answer the phone if you're hoping to get a job! I think you were just unlucky, OP.

Were you sat holding your sweet potato aloft the whole time? And did you at least mute Peep Show?

wellyclad · 26/09/2017 17:42

* ! Was not happy when I said that they were in line with the advertised salary bracket*

This happened to me in an interview once. They advertised a really good salary then in the interview asked me :”so, what would you not work for?”

Bastards

GinGeum · 26/09/2017 17:42

We used to do this in a company I worked for in the past. But, we were advertising for warehouse staff via the job centre (so to people who were out of work) and we were getting hundreds of applications each time. We found a lot of people were just applying to say they had, so they could continue to sign on, so rather than waste our time bringing people in for a face-to-face interview, we'd see how keen for the job they were over the phone. Then the second stage of interview was in person at the office.

ShesNoNormanPace · 26/09/2017 17:42

Once upon a time my ex answered the phone and it was someone calling to phone-interview his housemate. Now, he'd (the ex) applied for the same job - but hadn't got as far as the phone interview stage - but his housemate wasn't in. He got through to the next round Grin I don't think there was a potato involved.

Keepthebloodynoisedown · 26/09/2017 17:43

I've been applying and lots of company's have done this.
I've started to let any numbers that I don't know go to voicemail, so I can do a bit of research and then call back.

ShuttyTown · 26/09/2017 17:43

@SchadenfreudePersonified 😂

JustDanceAddict · 26/09/2017 17:45

That’s really bad practice. I have asked a few questions on the phone but always asked if it was convenient and it was literally to check if the could communicate verbally!!

52FestiveRoad · 26/09/2017 17:52

I've had a telephone interview, but they rang first thing in the morning and arranged a suitable time that afternoon for the actual interview. She was very nice & friendly on the phone and it was just like an chat about my experience - I got through to the interview stage but did not make it past that. I think it was very bad of your company to launch into an interview there and then with no warning. I hope you get the job, assuming you still want it.

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