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Interview process -this isn't fair is it?

7 replies

Elfyny · 22/01/2024 14:26

My manager is about to recruit for a new position in my team, doing the same thing i do.

I believe he's already decided on the candidate he wants, and he's told this candidate that they've got a very strong chance of getting the job, (as in, if your direct colleagues were the only ones to apply, you would definitely get it, 100%) and he's told this person some of the questions that they're going to be asked in the interview. I know for certain that the candidate hasn't been told this information for eg, as a reasonable adjustment for the interview, because candidate was told this before the job had been posted.

The candidate told me all this directly. The recruitment process in the company is supposed to be based entirely on scoring during the interview. It doesn't seem right to me that he's already decided who is going to get the job, and to have given that person an advantage by telling them what specific questions they're going to be asked. Not just "tell me your biggest strengths and weaknesses" - far more specific than that. Candidate wouldn't be a bad choice but there are more experienced and qualified people who are likely to apply.

But I've been at this company a really long time - is this just what goes on?

I'm not planning to do anything - i just want some outside perspective.

OP posts:
OddityOddityOdd · 22/01/2024 14:31

In my experience candidates who have been "given the nod" often perform badly at interview as they think it's a done deal and make little effort. Will there be a panel with an HR rep? Managers don't always get their way when other candidates perform better. I have known a fair few really had their noses put out of joint by not getting a job they assumed was in the bag.

regenerate · 22/01/2024 14:34

but odd the candidate has been so open with you

Elfyny · 22/01/2024 14:39

The manager will be conducting the interviews, no HR board.

The candidate was open with me because I'm mentoring them and they wanted some advice. I'll be pleased for them if they get the job but if i was one of the other candidates id be really pissed off that it wasn't a fair process.

OP posts:
regenerate · 22/01/2024 14:40

how do you know what other candidates have been told?

HuntingForChicken · 22/01/2024 14:57

I suspect this does go on. Is it entirely fair, maybe not, but if you know the person will be good at the job it can be frustrating to have red tape make it difficult for you to employ them.

Puddingpieplum · 22/01/2024 15:11

It absolutely does go on, but wouldn't they just save a load of faff by advertising the role internally.....if "everyone" knows this person will get the role they won't bother applying, and it'll save everyone's time.

Aaron95 · 22/01/2024 15:25

Legally there is no requirement for them to have a recruitment process. They could just give the job to someone if they want to.

Some organisations may have formal scoring matrices but trust me there are ways for managers to manipulate the scoring criteria to ensure the person they want gets the job.

It's not always a bad thing. Employing someone you know is a lot less risky than employing someone you only know via an interview process.

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