Please don’t call people for job interview at 11pm
Impression has always been a very important thing. When you go meet a new client, the first impression the client has of you may decide whether he’s going to buy from you or not. Same goes for a job interviewee – you only have that 1 or 2 times to make a good impression.
What bout Human Resource recruiter (headhunters are not tied to the company and the company’s work culture)? Impression is also very important. It gives the candidate a brief “look” at how your company works.
Few years ago, a HR recruiter of a Singaporean company called me for interview. Prior to the call, I was pretty interested in what the company was doing at that time. But after the call, I turned down. Why? Because called me twice – 9pm on 1 day, and 10pm on another day. On the second occasion, she thought I was a new candidate.
And just recently, another recruiter called me. I was very very interested in the job description actually (no, I didn’t apply) but I turned it down anyway. Why? Because she called me at 11.30pm.
The good thing is that these HR recruiters did not try to hide the fact their respective company’s work culture is to work until very late. It’ll be much worse if you go to a new company, ONLY to realize that their work culture doesn’t suit you.
Still, it is also undeniable that……they were scaring the candidates off by calling the candidates at such ungodly hour.
So if you’re a recruiter, try to call the potential candidates at around 6-7pm. I think that’s the best timing to call.
Remember, first impression is very important.
Hmm…… 11 and still calling candidates, really not that professional
Freethinkers last blog post..I am certain
Freethinker
7 Sep 08 at 8:02 pm
@ Freethinker
Maybe he was pretty desperate?
Alvin Lim
7 Sep 08 at 8:49 pm
well, it cannot be as bad as my case….
the offer letter stated i was supposed to come in on, let’s say the 25 august(monday) but then, i get one call on the on the 17th august (sunday)telling me “we made a typo in ur letter, could you report tomorrow??” =____=”
racoons last blog post..Misquoted Quotes
racoon
7 Sep 08 at 10:50 pm
I was looking for a part-time job earlier. So, this friend of mine told me her restaurant was hiring and that the boss wanted to interview me on Sunday, around 5PM. As a result, I waited for the boss until 7:20pm and still she hasn’t show up. In the end, I turned her down although she wanna hire me and I was desperate for a job.
First impression is very important indeed.
Tocs last blog post..Cheesecake Factory
Toc
8 Sep 08 at 12:00 am
@ racoon
whoa, that’s not a good start. I think by that time, you’ve already resigned…..and for the HR of your new company to make such silly mistakes… it’s either carelessness or it’s really a bad omen.
@ Toc
Hmm, quite similar to my case last time. I was quite fresh (1 year experience) and this company asked me to go for interview on a Saturday. At that time, I knew the answer – i won’t join.
Guess what, I reached there 30 min earlier, and the CTO made me waited 3 hours! Being a professional, I didn’t leave just like that but I went into the interview and really pissed with the CTO. I just wanted to see how that idiot talked. Not professional at all.
As expected, that company is still that small 4 yrs later.
Alvin Lim
8 Sep 08 at 9:39 am