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A friend of mine recently (Mar 28) interviewed for a project manager position with a major full line insurance company in LA. She found the job through a headhunter...errr... recruiter... (Sorry Mark :wink:
The hiring manager and an HR person were in the interview.

The next day, the recruiter told her that they really liked her but did not see a fit for the PM job. He added that they said they saw a really good fit for a Business Analyst position that was being newly created. They did not want to discuss this with her as they were waiting for requisition approval for the job (there are currently 370 odd postings on their website, so approval does not seem to be an issue). The recruiter finished this up saying that they liked her so much, he was SURE there was going to be an offer.

I can't imagine anyone making a promise like this and now she is afraid to contact the hiring manager directly. Anyone ever have an experience like this? Should she contact the manager directly now?

Thanks in advance

*RNTT

Mark's picture
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Promises like this are made ALL THE TIME. They're not valid, even if sometimes made with very good intentions.

I think it's fine to contact the hiring manager, just to close the loop.

Mark

asteriskrntt1's picture

Thanks Mark.

That was my gut feeling too.

thaGUma's picture

I agree, but I would recommend contacting the hiring manager in any event to start building a relationship. 1. Its polite to say thanks for seeing me. 2. It provides a forum for any unanswered questions to be addressed from both sides and 3. You may not get this job, but you might meet the manager later on in your career or even add to your network - always make them remember you. They then have a face to potentially fit any upcoming job.

Chris

asteriskrntt1's picture

The weird follow up:

I finally convinced my friend to bypass the recruiter and call the hiring manager just to build that network. The hiring manager said she was glad my friend called and then told my friend about this new position. The hiring manager also added that they wanted to hire her although the position is still going through the requisition approval process and did not officially exist yet.

Which leaves my friend still searching and me saying to myself "if you really wanted to hire someone and did not have the position for them, wouldn't you at least tell the potential hire this so they might not take a position elsewhere?" It is all very odd.

Mark's picture
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You just said the hiring manager DID say "they wanted to hire her."

Sounds like someone's not listening.

Mark

asteriskrntt1's picture

Sorry... I was not clear. I meant wouldn't you be proactive and tell the prospective hire at the front end (ie, back in late March or early April) instead of leaving it to chance that the hire might be around if and when you eventually make a decision?

If she had not called as per your advice, she would only have the word via the original 3rd party recruiter. It just seems odd that if you want someone so badly, you would not let them know about it. Plus, I don't have a lot of management experience - YET :)

wendii's picture
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Right hand not knowing what left hand was doing and all of them communicating badly? I'd say that was normal!

Our process is that you get an employee req for a certain amount, go through interviews and then have to have another req signed off for the specifics. Because a hiring manager can put anything into our system which creates the offer letter some reponsible person has to check that he hasn't just decided to pay his brother in law 4 times the going rate for a job.

I have a vacancy I'm working on which has been open for 6 months, I've asked the HM several times if I can close it down and he says, I'm still working on my team structure, I might hire those people we interviewed. And I say, but Mr HM they are long gone, and he doesn't want to hear and doesn't listen.

Anyone who thinks hiring is a slick, organised, well communicated, best practice part of the organisation has never worked anywhere I've worked!

Wendii

Mark's picture
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And Wendii's experience is mine as well.

Mark

asteriskrntt1's picture

I see... it is beginning to look like the secret to managerial success is a large part being professional (which I am not seeing a lot of in my career yet) tempered with ensuring you fit in. If you "out professional" everyone quickly, it might overwhelm the fit and work against you. Sounds like a podcast :idea:

Thanks for all your feedback and patience with my learning curve.

*RNTT

asteriskrntt1's picture

Ok.. you guys won't believe this.... my friend just got a job offer from a different company.... again, through a 3rd party recruiter..... for a business analyst position... she had ONE fifteen minute phone interview with a hiring manager, no face-to-face, no reference check and was faxed a contract offer four hours later ... totally amazing...