- 01
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
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They scheduled my final round interview for a role that didn't exist. I'm still in shock
"Got through 4 rounds over 6 weeks. Technical screen, cultural fit, panel with the team, then a final with the VP. Each round they told me I was progressing well and that they were excited about my profile. At one point the recruiter texted me personally to say I was their top candidate.
I took the process seriously. Spent probably 15 hours total preparing. Researched the company inside out, prepped for every possible question, bought a new shirt for the final round.
Took the day off work for it. Told my manager I had a doctor's appointment."
- 02
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The position had been put on hold two months ago. Budget got pulled. Nobody told recruiting. They had been running a full, serious, multi-round interview process for a role that was frozen before he ever submitted his application. The VP found out that morning when he went to get sign-off on the offer letter.
He apologized. Seemed genuinely embarrassed. Said HR would be in touch about next steps, which is the corporate equivalent of saying nothing at all.
The walk back through the lobby. The same receptionist. The drive home in silence. The call to his manager saying the appointment ran short.
And the shirt. Still unworn. Still hanging there as a very specific reminder of a day that went in a direction nobody planned for and nobody warned him about.
Here's the thing about job hunting: the process already asks a lot. Time, energy, vulnerability, hope — all of it offered up to companies that may or may not ever get back to you. The least anyone can do is make sure the role actually exists before putting a candidate through six weeks of it.
He deserved better than that lobby walk.
Everyone does.
- 03
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"Show up to the office. Check in at the front desk. Sit in the lobby for about 10 minutes. VP comes down, shakes my hand, leads me to a conference room. Closes the door. Sits down. Then just looks at me for a second and says he needs to tell me something before we start.
The position was put on hold two months ago. Budget got pulled. Nobody told recruiting. They had been running a full interview process for a role that was frozen before I even applied.
He found out himself that morning when he went to get sign-off on the offer letter."
- 04
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"He apologized. Seemed genuinely embarrassed. Said HR would be in touch about next steps which obviously meant nothing.
Walked back angry through the lobby past the same receptionist who checked me in. Drove home in silence. Called my manager and said the appointment ran short.
I still have the new shirt. Never wore it again."
- 05
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
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Oh that's horrific. I'm so sorry. It sounds like a miscommunication but that probably is an indication of the way the company works. It might not feel like it right now, but probably will save you hassle in the future if critical decisions aren't communicated even to VPs. Absolutely awful situation though, sorry.
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I’m sorry this happened to you! It sounds like the VP was genuinely sorry. Maybe they’ll keep your information for future opportunities. Although the communication gap was terrible, if they do call you one day, at least hear them out as an option. It sounds like it was just an honest mistake. I have HR and recruiters to suck for a lot of companies, so it’s not uncommon.
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This is a sign that companies are going to start collapsing there is too much beurocracy and too much corporate red tape.
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Send them an invoice for the time spent and how much money it cost you based on your hourly salary x 3 to cover overhead expenses like a real job. No one works for free! If they're going to waste your time for a job that doesn't exist show them that you don't cosplay with your career!
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Absolutely ridiculous. Unfortunately, this type of incompetence is normal. A lot of departments simply don’t communicate with one another, if at all. Going through a 6 week interview process with a potential hire and not knowing there was a change with the role is beyond nuts. I was pissed when I was interviewed and then received an email follow up not even 30 minutes later stating that they had actually already filled the role. I probably would’ve lost it if I had to endure what you did. Only positive I’d take from this is understanding company flaws that you might want to be weary of and asking about the actual availability of said roles when you have future interviews.
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Sounds like you dodged a very inconveniently placed bullet to me. If they have this much disrespect for your time before you're even hired, what bullsh*t do they have in store for you when you are hired? Inconvenient, yes, but you saw first hand the quality of that company, and it is severely lacking.
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One of the things that I hated about my old company was the brutal approval process for hiring (once had a manager role go up to through the regional CEO up to the global CEO) that sometimes took months. But the only good thing about it was once you got it was good… including during hiring freezes and layoff cycles.
Sorry to hear this happened… this is horrible
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This feels like a setback, and I would not defend this behavior, but it may not be as much of a waste as you might think.
I have interviewed for a position and during the interview process, the position was frozen. I kept in touch with the manager, and when the position was unfrozen I was the first on the list to get called, asked if I was still interested, and took the position. Not saying that will be what happens here, but it may be worthwhile to keep in touch and leverage your current effort for the future.
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I've had similar happen. One time I got a call a few months later, asking if I was still interested. So it might still work out.
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Definitely a short term bummer, but don't spiral too hard - job openings get put on hold all the time. Quarterly budgets against revenues/pipeline are constantly in a state of evaluation, so companies do the prudent thing and hold off on new hires until more clarity is available.
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That's terrible, OP, but it's better that it happened when someone was only trying to sell you a bill of goods....
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Send them a bill for your time.
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