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I am not frustrated with job hunting or the recruitment process. I actively started seeking a job this month and I booked 3 interviews. I had one today. Unfortunately, all 3 jobs were through an agency and they were all brown people. All of the jobs were in Brampton and all of them were Office Admin positions. And all of the people that interviewed me were brown. I am not going to insult my own breed but I have to make a few points..
Note: This doesn't apply to every one who is Indian. I am just talking about a few people that I have come across (hence, it is NOT a generalization).
Brown people do NOT have the general etiquette in an office setting.
You walk in. There is no smile. No greeting. No handshake. You take a seat, and they will start. Waaaaay to make someone comfortable. On all the interviews that I have had with white people or otherwise, I at least have been greeted in an appropriate manner and we shook hands before taking a seat. Isn't that a general thing to do? I don't understand. I have initiated all the handshakes at all the brown interviews, and most of them have responded to them hesitantly.
Brown people do NOT KNOW how to interview!
In all the GOOD interviews I have been to.. the norm is to begin by asking the candidate introductory questions to get to know them a little. Then, you begin to give them a brief description about your organization and what you do. Then, they ask more direct questions about your credentials or qualifications. Towards the end, the usually discuss benefits/pay, schedule etc. and ask if you can make it within those office timings. That is GENERALLY how it goes. Then, they give you an opportunity to ask questions in the end, if you have any.
But no.. not with brown people.. first, they will take a quick look at your resume. They will jump right into your qualifications, which is okay too. I understand some people want to have quick interviews and not waste time doing the full 10-15 minutes. They wanna be done with it in 5 minutes. But AT LEAST ASK questions! I am not a picky candidate. Right now, I need the money. When I quit back in January.. I didn't care as much. I try to satisfy the interviewer as much as I can. But at least, ask PROPER questions. I swear, Canada needs to give free HR seminars to these business owners about how to interview.
I went to an interview today through an agency. I got a call at 10:00 am. I was supposed to be there by 11:30 am. I jumped out of bed, took a shower, and managed to straighten my hair. I quickly read the job description, google mapped the address and ran out the door. It took me 12 minutes to drive to the place. I was really hoping I would get it because its 10 minutes from my place. I would not have cared if it was even minimum wages. Right now, I NEED a job and I cannot be picky with what I am getting.
As soon as I entered the establishment.. I was told to wait. I waited, then I was told to go upstairs an turn to an office on the left. I was not told who to ask for. I had to ask, who am I looking for? Then, I was given a name. I entered and I saw a brown couple. I am assuming they were husband and wife. Because while I was entering the office, I heard them talk in Hindi in a very intimate way with each other.
I had a seat. The lady invited me in. The man kept staring at me in a very weird way, and did not say a word. He did not acknowledge that I entered the room. I pulled out my CV myself and handed it to the lady. She read over it. I was not asked any question. She said, "Have you been born and brought up in Canada?" I said, "Not born.. but yes, I was raised in Canada. I have been here for over a decade." Then, the lady passed on the resume to the man. He didn't read it. He looked down on the paper for 2 seconds and asked me, "Where did you work last?" So, I went on to explain my Immigration job. He almost cut me off in the middle, as if he wasn't interested to hear any of it. Then, he said.. "Do you have any experience with accounting or quickbooks?" I said.. "No.. I do not per se. But I a quick learner, and it took me a week to pick up on the legal software where I worked last." And then, there was a long pause.. After that, he said, "Okay.. we will let you know." And I had to make an exit right away.
The entire interview was just AWKWARD and uncomfortable. The way people treat you in an interview really makes a difference. The description said you had to be all bubbly and friendly and professional. I am naturally all of that, without pretending. But then, the people sitting there seemed as if they were half-asleep or semi-dead. I know I will not hear from them. I just wanted to write about how retarded it is to go for these brown interviews. When the agency called me, they said.. ask for "Paul." I was assuming Paul would be someone white. If I had known they were brown, I would not have gone.
Oh well..
I have not met many brown people that are professional. They probably do not even know the 'P' of Professionalism. It's frustrating to go through such dumb interviews. In one interview, I was asked what we charge for our services (which was confidential information). In the entire interview, the man compared his company with the one I worked at. I was not asked even ONE question about my own qualifications. He was trying to get information out of me about his rival company (where I worked at!). I was outraged. I still remained professional but I said something in a very rude tone.. "It is ironic that you are asking me such unethical questions while raving about how much more ethical and professional you are!" Of course, I was out of there within a few seconds. I can't work with assholes like that.
Argghhh!
It's not that I am LOOKING for these jobs. The agencies post the jobs. And the descriptions are impressive and professional. But when you go in.. you realize how different it all is.
Okay.. done ranting.
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