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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WIBU re job offer

25 replies

ConkerGame · 03/10/2017 14:23

About 18 months ago I was looking to change the sector I worked in. It was an unusual swap (although not unheard of) and required quite a bit of extra prep/work/revision in my spare time, plus jobs don't come up very often in the new sector so lots of scouring job websites/ meeting with recruiters etc. I was very keen to get one of the few jobs on offer and did lots of preparation for each interview.

Company A invited me for an interview and then a second and a third interview. I felt they had gone well and really liked the sound of the role and the vibe I got in the offices but after the third interview I never heard from them again. I even emailed after a few weeks to ask for an update but heard nothing at all. I was disappointed as I'd put in a lot of effort, taken time off work for interviews etc and I doubt they'd interviewed more than 3 of us, so wouldn't have been a huge effort to just send an email saying "sorry, we've given the job to someone else". Instead they left me in limbo and it felt quite disrespectful as they'd seen me three times over a period of 6 weeks so I wasn't a complete random.

In the meantime Company B invited me for interview and second interview and offered me a job, which I took. I have now been at new firm for a year and, whilst it's not perfect, I really like my colleagues, get good work and am happy for the time being.

Anyway, this morning I have had an email from Company A saying they are looking to hire someone again (in the department I interviewed for last time) and they think looking at my LinkedIn profile I would be perfect for the job. In a way I am flattered as it's very rare to get a direct approach from this type of company (they normally just advertise/ use recruiters) but also in a way I want to reply and say "absolutely no chance after how you treated me last time!"

I don't want to move anyway as I'm happy where I am but you never know what the future holds and I could well eventually want to move to Company A at some point further down the line, so I don't want to burn any bridges.

However, WIBU to point them to their past behaviour as a reason for turning them down now? Or would that just be cutting off my nose to spite my face? Any advice gratefully received!

OP posts:

HoneyIshrunkthebiscuit · 03/10/2017 14:24

I would just respond with 'I'm not looking to move currently thank you but please consider me for any future positions you have available'.

Original poster

ConkerGame · 03/10/2017 14:31

Thanks Honey. I guess I want to make sure if I go for another job with them in future they wouldn't treat me in the same way again, so wanted to let them know I was annoyed at how they had behaved last time, in the hope they would change...

But is that just wishful thinking?

OP posts:

rightnowimpissed · 03/10/2017 14:32

Not getting back to someone is a weird thing to do, unfortunatly this happens all the time, people just dont think sometimes, I mean five miutes to draft and email and send it, its not hard.

Just say thank you very much however i am unavailble for recruitment at the moment.

Unless you think it would be a better place, then i would go for it you don't owe company b anything.

rightnowimpissed · 03/10/2017 14:33

I don't think saying anything about before will do you any favours though

Original poster

ConkerGame · 03/10/2017 14:56

Thanks RightNow. Do you think I could go about it in a less aggressive way, e.g. "Thanks for considering me. I actually interviewed for a role last year but didn't hear back from you. I'm actually not looking atm but please let me know if anything else comes up in future" ?

That way they are aware of past behaviour being below par without me actually having a go at them?

OP posts:

TheRealBiscuitAddict · 03/10/2017 15:04

Unfortunately not sending out a rejection is standard practice in a lot of companies. Not that I agree with it, I don't, but it is more the norm these days than not.

Also, what are you hoping to achieve by telling them you won't apply for a job at their company because of not receiving a rejection last time? The reality is that if you don't apply they'll just give the job to someone else, and no-one is indispensable so if they don't get an application from you it's not going to affect them in any way. Telling them that you didn't like their behaviour could affect your potential future prospects there though.

I would just say thank you but you're currently happy in the role you're in and leave it at that. That way there's no bad blood if you potentially want to apply to work for them in future.

TheRealBiscuitAddict · 03/10/2017 15:10

Also, the person who has approached you is likely not the same person who would have been responsible for sending out rejection/feedback last year as that probably would just have come from the HR department.

newmumwithquestions · 03/10/2017 15:11

So I didn't get the last job I went for so maybe I shouldn't give job advice, but I see nothing wrong in your 'gently telling them they were rubbish' approach.

Companies shouldn't treat people this way and if we accepted it less then it would happen less.

Obviously don't be aggressive, but as someone who used to recruit I would never hold it against someone if they (politely) pointed out they weren't treated that well.

PagingDrMarcel · 03/10/2017 16:52

I think your proposed reply is perfect and the feedback would be useful to them (although drop one of the actually's)

schoolgaterebel · 03/10/2017 16:53

Email them this:

‘Ha ha your loss!’

you know you want to

TheNoseyProject · 03/10/2017 16:55

I think that’s a good email to send them and an important message for them to receive.

CottonSock · 03/10/2017 16:55

This happened to me. I raised the no feedback issue and didn't hear from them again. I didn't want to work there by this point after talking to staff about the office problems

Original poster

ConkerGame · 03/10/2017 17:20

Thanks everyone

OP posts:

Creampastry · 03/10/2017 17:42

Tell them you want a minimum salary of xx which is higher than you actually get!!

MadMags · 03/10/2017 17:50

What about

"Thank you for considering me. Could I ask; is this similar to the position I interviewed for last year?"

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 03/10/2017 17:57

How about something along the lines of
"Thank you for your approach and for considering me for this role. At the present time, I am not looking to change my current employer, having taken up my post within the last year.

I would, however, be interested in your company should a similar role be vacant in the future and would be grateful if you would keep my details on file."

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 03/10/2017 18:00

I was in a similar position. I replied to say I'd been for an interview and never heard back.

I should have said nothing but I was annoyed and meh, I don't regret it.

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 03/10/2017 18:03

...should add that there's no point sending the email you posted above. It doesn't read like you're put off by how they treated you, because you asked them to keep you in mind.

BabsGanoush · 03/10/2017 18:27

Don't say anything but go with it and name your ridiculously high price.

If successful, laugh and state you'd have done it for half the price!

frieda909 · 03/10/2017 18:34

Not saying it's the most sensible thing to do, but personally I wouldn't be able to resist replying with something about your last experience. I wouldn't be rude, but (reasonably or not) I would be very pissed off and want to say something.

Not responding to someone at all after just one interview is really out of order. After three interviews?! That's really, really shocking. That's hours, even days of your life you've given to them, not to mention all the weeks of stress wondering whether or not you'll hear anything.

I think I'd reply with something like 'Thank you for getting in touch. I have actually interviewed for a role in that department previously but it did not seem to work out, as I heard nothing more after attending three interviews. I am not looking for a new position at this time but thank you very much for thinking of me.'

Again, not saying it's the wisest thing to send but I wouldn't be able to help myself!

If you wanted to put a more constructive spin on it you could say something about how you would want to get some feedback about your previous interviews there before considering applying again, as none was available last time.

Original poster

ConkerGame · 03/10/2017 22:17

Thanks everyone!

OP posts:

Shamoo · 03/10/2017 22:32

Oh I would absolutely reply and point it out to them. I also wouldn't want to work for a company that behaves like that, especially if the person who ignored your emails was in that team. It is so so so disrespectful - one thing to not reply to a general application, but beyond rude after three interviews.

Bodear · 04/10/2017 07:29

Hi OP, have you considered that by bringing it up you’ll be pointing out to them that they didn’t choose you last time?
I agree that it’s frustrating to not hear anything after an interview but it’s not unheard of and is part of the recruitment process unfortunately. However, it’s highly doubtful you’ll be able change the company or their practices so all you can do is manage the situation to get the best outcome for you. If you think you might want to work their in this job or in the future then you’ll gain nothing by pointing out what happened last time but you do have something to lose. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Bodear · 04/10/2017 07:30

Apologies for the terrible grammar. It’s too early!!!

MessyHouse91 · 04/10/2017 07:50

Obviously depending on the size on employer A, sometimes the LinkedIn 'recruiting' is dealt with by people without much to do with the central recruitment team. I get emails every day or so by companies offering me jobs which I won't be qualified for until 2019 (and this is clear on my profile) - sometimes they just target the employees of one company and message all of them, regardless of role.

Not to say they didn't owe you a rejection email though!

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