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pls help- interview related- should I tell the company?

8 replies

cupofcoke · 20/02/2019 23:45

So I had a pre recorded interview yesterday for an amazing role. This was first time I interviewed like this. And this is my first interview in ages. I have had a massive gap and rarely get interview calls.

I was given a deadline time by when I had to finish interview (within 3 days of invitation).

I had very bad experience with the website of 3rd party company which provides pre recorded video platforms.
They gave a few wrong details about the process, did not answer my email until a few hours before deadline time.

I had decided to take interview on the morning of day of the deadline day (deadline was 11:59 pm). But unfortunately I couldn't as flat above mine had some renovation work going on (about which we were not informed). On checking I got to know they would finish around 5pm.
So, I decided to do interview recording after 5pm.
Long story short, I had problem getting connected to the interview link provided in the invitation email from our home office. Work desk is next to router. I tested with other website, FaceTime call to dh, everything seems to be working but the link. After several attempts and rebooting router a few times I gave up and moved to the other side of flat, where we have another router.
I had bad lighting in the room, so finally moved to our bedroom and had to bring table and chair from outside and set up laptop, notebooks, etc.
Finally when I opened the link, it led me to a page to ask me make Flash download.
The FAQ section had step by step process written and nowhere flash download was mentioned. In fact, the process mentioned in FAQ had 5 different steps from the real one.
I wasn't able to download flash as clicking on the link provided by them was leading to a page saying service not available in my country.
By now I was very stressed and almost panicky.
I was finally able to start the video from my iPhone after downloading their app. But I had to sit in a way that my face and upper body fitted in the layout provided by them, which meant I had to make some sort of stand for mobile.
After all this when I started my interview, I was v anxious and it affected my interview. Though I was able to answer all questions popped on screen, I was nervous to gather my points in a way I would have done if I was calmer. On top, there was a timer with countdown for each question/answer. I finished my interview v close to deadline time.

My complain is that 3rd party company did not have update their recording process properly. My guess is they have changed the process but didn't update in FAQ.
Also, they failed to inform about flash download.
This is the only information I received with invitation email by that company -
The whole process should take no longer than 30 minutes, which includes checking your setup, doing some practice questions and completing the interview.
There was a button to click to start interview and along with it, interview password was given.
I email the company asking if this password is for one time use, or if I can check the set up well in advance, I didn't get any reply until a couple of hours before deadline time.

I wanted to write about my experience to the company I applied to. dh says it will further reduce my chances for next round.
I regret not interviewing a day before but I wanted to spend more time learning about company's structure, products, etc.

The process which was supposed to take 30 mins, took very long time in my case.
Should I mention it to the recruiting organisation or will it look bad?
Hiring organisation is major UK university.
I am so upset because I know I can do this role v well but my interview couldn't showcase that. I had really liked the role.

I would really appreciate your comments.

Many thanks for reading my long post.

OP posts:
Catalicious · 21/02/2019 00:32

Please don't complain to them about this.

You should have tested the link in advance.

Flash is very common for video software and doesn't need separate instructions.

A lot of this is common sense; and part of the process will be sifting our candidates who can't follow instructions or problem solve.

Just try and get more comfortable with technology for future. They will take into account nerves, too :-)

User1053051066 · 21/02/2019 00:44

I would give feedback if you genuinely feel it is something they can improve.
I think feedback is so important.

Justagirlwholovesaboy · 21/02/2019 00:46

Sorry you complaining or making excuses will look bad, they will expect you be be prepared and foresee issues. Learn from this

Steeve · 21/02/2019 01:02

Flash is very common for video software

20 years ago, yeah. Not anymore.

rosablue · 21/02/2019 01:08

Flash also is not supported on iPhones and iPads.

swingofthings · 21/02/2019 09:19

Don't complain. It sounds like you didn't prepare well. Even if you wanted to go ahead with the inter iew on the last day, you should have spent the previous days to work out how to use the system and insure that it was ready to operate.

It is likely none of the other interviewees had issues. Just cross fingers that you did well and didn't come across as unsettled as you think you did. Your research might have paid of. Good luck.

cupofcoke · 21/02/2019 14:01

Hello everyone, thanks for your replies. I won't tell the company.

Those who are saying I am making excuses or didn't prepare well,
first thing I did was to go to 3rd party website and read all their FAQs, instructions, etc.

There was no link to set up the system on the email or on website. There was a button on email with text 'click to start interview' and below it was an interview password. That button had the link to interview and whatever set up was required.

I emailed their support but I got reply 2 hours before the deadline time (3rd day).

FAQ process was very different from real one and there too there was no mention of if the interview could be set up before.

Catalicious I have installed flash before, and I come from fairly technical background with 3 years qualification in programming, and ironically IT troubleshooting experience. I also have common sense.

The embedded Flash in the set up interview pages was not working. If I knew flash was needed, I would've install it before.

It's not as common nowadays as you think. www.alphr.com/software/1009184/adobe-flash-dead-websites-ditch-software

I agree I should've done interview a day before, so in case of problem I had one more day to avoid all the stress right before interview. A big lesson learnt.

I won't give feedback as clearly it comes across as making an excuse.

Thanks for the help :)

OP posts:
SileneOliveira · 21/02/2019 14:44

Bit like the people who leave their tax return until the 31st Jan and then blame the system being busy for not being able to file on time....

Don't give feedback. You should have tried sooner in order to give yourself time to deal with unexpected glitches.

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