[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by orlok

I'm with you on this one. ...
Needless to say I didn't get to second interview.

It's always HR who messes it up. They don't read. They don't prepare. They don't listen. They ask stupid questions.

I'm almost certain that it's the fact that I don't have a car or even a driver's license (because of my poor eye sight) that got me rejected. Again. I've seen this turn of events more than a few times.

- Recruitment agency calls / I apply for a job

- It's asked that: "If a car/license is REQUIRED, it's no use to even invite me. I HAVE NO CAR. I HAVE NO LICENSE. I WILL NEVER GET ONE. BY LAW, I AM NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT VISION. Have you understood this?

- "Ah I understand. In this job, it's no problem." I get invited.

- Interview 1: The head of the software department (and the people themselves) positively sit on their chairs, bouncing up and down, grinning, happy to have found someone who can actually do what they want. They rave about how my CV is a perfect match. I chat for over 1-2,5 hours, sometimes even review some of their designs on the spot (seriously), drink a few cups of coffee. I get tours of the company, a look a the test equipment, and am often introduced to other team members. I get invited for the second interview. No, not having a car shouldn't be a problem. I get told they hope to see me again soon.

- Interview 2: Some HR manager/worker asks a lot of questions that can be answered by looking at the **** CV. They ask irrelevant stuff about my GF, marital status, and if everything is OK in the relationship. Which gets answered with: "Yes, everything's fine." (It's none of their business, and not relevant to the job.) They ask if I have pets. Or whatever other irrelevant stuff.

- Then reality suddenly strikes like a thunderbolt: I don't have a car. Nor a license. Why not? Why don't I have a driver's license? Am I going to get one soon? Because, yeah, I need to go to customers sometimes, or there's a second production facility where I sometimes need to be, or whatever. EVERY **** TIME.

- A hugely unpleseant part in the conversation follows, sometimes even including questions such as: Can you still see? Can you use a computer and write software? Do you have a guide dog? (Do you see me being blind? Haven't I handed you a CV which lists 7 projects I've designed, implemented, tested, and delivered in the last 3 years? DO YOU SEE A **** GUIDE DOG AROUND HERE?!)

- Thanks for coming, we'll let you know more in a few days.

- Next day: "Sorry, we're not making you an offer. You don't fit the company, you're no match for the team, the HR person in the second interview wasn't feeling the vibe" or whatever vague crap they come up with.

In my opinion, a job interview should be done with the head of the department and one or more of the people you're going to work with, and that's it. HR should stay out of the entire business of hiring people, except to print the contract when ordered to by said department head. I'm not going to work FOR them, not going to work WITH them, so why speak to them? In the end, if all administration is in order, I'll probably barely see them around except during lunch break.