crappyFirst off, I shot awake at 5:30am, and figured since I was up, I'd go ahead and get going. Dressed, etc., and walked out at 6am, figuring the extra time couldn't hurt. This proved to be a good idea, since traffic was Hell.
The trip itself wasn't bad, except for the fact that it was hot as the 'Nam jungle out there, and I'm in a black suit. Also, I asked someone to help me with which stop, ay one point, she said the best one was the next stop, and after I got off and wandered around for a little, I discovered that she had put me off the bus 8 or 9 blocks from where I needed to be...more walking in the heat. When I finally get where I'm going, the buildings have no numbers on them, so I wandered around more trying to find the place.
But, OK, I get there, I'm figuring that the worst part is behind me, I found it. I get into the office, and there are 4 others there, and a sign on the desk saying "If you are here for the 10am appointment, have a seat, someone wil be right with you". I've seen group interviews before, and they have already said that they do things a little different, so I take a seat. The usual banter ensues between me and the others there, all of us just chatting about whatever, getting a few laughs out of our system, prepping to get going. Others arrive, until we are something like 20 strong (there were only enough seats for 6...good thing I was early!)
Eventually, some guy comes out, says that there seems to be some confusion, he doesn't know exactly what is going on, but that he is trying to find out, if we could all just hang out a little longer....this does not bode well. About 10:10, he comes back out...I gotta give this guy credit. It sucks to be the messenger of bad news. Regardless, he has to inform us that there has been a serious mistake. WE were all scheduled to be here today, but the managers who would have done the interviews were NOT. Apparently, we should have been scheduled for Thursday; the 2 managers in this office are not in, one has an appointment elsewhere and the other is out of town. Yes, we all got confirmation e-mails that said our appointments were today, but someone or something screwed up somewhere. And, interestingly enough, neither one of the managers was the HR person mentioned in the e-mail...so no one knows ANYTHING about her. However, he took care to get a name and a number from all of us, and we were told that those managers apologized profusely, and someone WOULD call us TODAY without fail. Those that took the day off from work to be here are not happy, to say the least.
So, after all damn morning on the bus/train, dealing with the heat, etc...nothing. Not a sausage. One very cool thing was that one of the others at the interview offered to give me a ride back home, since she only lives about 10 minutes away from me, so I made it home quick and easy and made a new friend...rock. I munched some lunch, put on a movie, and started passing out, so I figured a nap wasn't a bad idea...unfortunately, this is groundskeeping day, I guess. RIGHT OUTSIDE MY FUCKING WINDOW, it's been nothing but the whine and blare of the leafblower and the scraping of the rake on the sidewalk, in the same place, for the last hour. No sleep for me, and besides, it's too hot. I'd go jump in the pool, but I want to hear this phone call. Of course, it's now 3pm...no call yet.
Now, this is the same company that Di just went to, and after discovering that the $20 a month was AFTER a $500 set-up fee, she told them not to bother. Interesting point to that story: they were supposed to call, between 5-8 last night. According to the recruiters, she needed to be ready for that call, because they don't leave messages and they don't call back. Sounds kinda arrogant to me. She mailed them saying not to worry, and I was online. 8:30, they call, apparently didn't get the e-mail, it's AFTER the time they were supposed to call, and they tell her that they called earlier but it was busy...aren't these the guys that "don't call back"? She tells them 'no thanks', and today she gets an e-mail saying that tjhey really want to set up a time for her to come to an open call, and to call the head of somethingorother at such-and-such number. What she just DID was an open call, but she calls this guy anyway, and he doesn't KNOW what that was about!
I'm not impressed with these guys...at all. It's starting to sound more and more like a dodge or scam or something. If nothing else, they can't seem to get their shit together. Assuming they call, I'll hear them out, and if they really impress me, I might go with it...but they have a serious hole to dig themselves out of.
Dammit, I'm still tired.