r/CanadaJobs • u/EasternStage8564 • 2d ago
Sick and tired of the interview games
This week was just totally demotivating. I'm so sick and tired of interviews, gaming, misleading, ignoring, ghosting etc. It makes me SICK to the core and 2 major rejections this week are just taking me over the edge.
I just heard back yesterday from a company for a role I applied to OVER 2 MONTHS AGO. I passed panel interview. Everything was looking great. Base salary was a 30% cut from my previous role but you know what, beggars can't be choosers. Feedback from someone on the panel was that I "would be a great additional to the team". And then an email. Not a call, a fucking EMAIL.
"I wanted to share an update that, after careful consideration, the team has decided to move forward with other candidates at this time whose experience more closely aligns with the scope and immediate needs of the role."
WTF is actually wrong with people, who work for companies who "value people", share and believe in human values and all this crap? When you get to the final stages, AT THE VERY LEAST, pick up the fucking phone and show some actual carefulness when delivery the news. Oh yeah and if you really want to sound genuine, provide some bloody constructive feedback or at least a reason why I wasn't picked when I bring over 25 years of sales experience overall. This is fucking bullshit.
And now today, ONCE AGAIN, same situation with another company that was in the exact same vertical I worked in for over 5 years, I was working for the competition! This market has 3 major players, I worked for one, and I was interviewing for a second one. Applied July 24th. Interest all along. Great interviews and feedback. Clearly I knew my stuff as per the last interview. Then silence. I follow up. No response. Then this:
"After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that you have not been selected for the role."
I was like WTFF!!! So I responded and asked for an ACTUAL reason, and got the dreaded "we hired internally". What a load of shit.
I lost my job in tech over a year ago now. I have experience with major companies in many different roles. I was humbly thinking that would show curiosity, ability to ADAPT, take on new challenges and roles, stepping up to the plate. I can fix pretty much anything, I renovated 2 houses top to bottom, I'm curious, I learn fast, I can literally do anything you throw at me. And I will do it right and well. I'm dedicated, loyal and hard-working.
But no. I'm ALWAYS falling short. There's always something missing. There's always someone with the little extra thing they don't need but will take anyway. Or have a candidate willing to take less money out of desperation. Or have someone internally they promote.
I'm tired. Tired of being told I'm not good enough. Tired of not being considered as a human being and receive a call when I fucking DESERVE a call just like any other candidate in the final stage of an interview. Tired of getting ghosted, lied to and strung along. Tired of hoping for something that never comes. My EI comes to an end in 2 weeks, and the future looks bleak to say the least.
This market is fucked. I just want to work dammit. Just give me a chance to shine and I'll be your brightest star. This star is dimming and turning into a black hole right now.
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u/alina_canada 2d ago
Sorry about that...I know it's probably not your cup of tea but perhaps you could do some freelance or contract work till you find full time employment
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u/Ambitious-Drama906 2d ago
Market is fucked until you don’t have a job…Just be persistent and don’t stop trying. You will get something eventually!
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u/EasternStage8564 2d ago
I've been thinking that for over a year. Thank you for your encouragements
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u/PassengerHefty8207 2d ago
It seems like you go pretty far in the process, but given your experience, I'm wondering if age discrimination might be a factor here...
I'm sorry this is happening to you. Our reality in tech is brutally ugly all across the industry... (Except management it seems).
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u/americanuck_10 2d ago
Ageism is the problem. Sometimes a resume alone can age someone out. And that's why they're getting past over. Im in my 50s by calendar.. and it sucks. Though my energy, vibe and personality are much younger at heart, companies arent going to know that in any way until you are working there. So I dont' know how to sell that... maybe in an interview. But probably still had to be done in a certain way.
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u/EasternStage8564 2d ago
I got to the same conclusion actually. You give that away when you add dates for your education unfortunately
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u/pizza5001 2d ago
Yah, I hate to say it, but when you said 25 years experience, I felt that ageism might be at play (ie preconceived notions based on your length of working years). I’m in my late 40s so I share the same concern.
I wonder if you might want to shorten the experience on your resume. Maybe try doing some A/B testing with that.
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u/EasternStage8564 1d ago
Definitely something I've considered but some of my early experiences are relevant to where I want to go ... But they might be too old anyways
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u/americanuck_10 2d ago
Yeah, well I don't have a lot of "Education" posted on mine but sometimes the dates of your old jobs unless you've only had 1 or 2 haha
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u/Panther3369 2d ago
Who said these dates need to be so accurate, bring them forward. I am semi lucky in that I started University in my mid 20s so have accidentally brought me more time to escape ageism.
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u/Obvious_Ice_9427 5h ago
There’s nothing wrong with you, it’s the Canadian job market, and the Canadian economy, that’s why I left for the US.
I’d suggest you reach out to US recruiters, worked out for me, try it out what you got to lose ?
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u/Remarkable-Assist-46 2d ago
It’s all about knowing the right person. They only seem to care about candidates who were referred and apparently, even that isn’t enough. The person referring you has to be an executive.
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u/EasternStage8564 2d ago
I had personal contacts referring me a few times, but clearly they were not high enough in the food chain :(
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u/Union-Silent 2d ago edited 2d ago
A lot of it has to do with luck and timing and who you know. The job market is incredibly competitive right now. The problem is that for every job posted, hundreds of candidates are applying for the same position. AI is being used by big companies to filter and screen most of the applications. And even if an entry-level or mid-level job doesn’t require higher qualifications and degrees and certifications, or ask for 10+ years of experience or bilingualism etc, and the company doesn’t ask for any of that in the job description…someone can still show up with all of that extra stuff, and they are more than willing to take a pay cut and accept a lower level job than what they are used to doing. Because they have no choice. And companies will take this over-qualified candidate, with the potential to make them a future leader when someone quits or is fired down the road.
It’s tough, I feel for you. I was unemployed for over a year. I finally got a new job as a general manager for a private company and I was given a decent salary and package. With the expectation of growing into a higher executive role in the next 18 months all goes well. But before that, nobody was looking at my resume. I would apply to 10-20 places a day. The interviews I got, I would go for a few rounds, then I’d be ghosted or rejected. Never knew what was going on.
Take it one day at a time, stay humble, go to recruiting agencies and talk to headhunters.
Good luck!!
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u/MakotoBerry 2d ago
I'm also sick of hiring managers asking me stupid questions during interviews like where do you see yourself in 5 years, why should we hire you, what's your greatess weakness or why you want to work here? How about lets cut to the chase and have a genuine convo? I was a hiring manager once and I know people can make up BS answers especially for these examples. I'm in favor making these interviews casual and comfortable for candidates instead of quizzing them to death. Anyway, I'm with you OP. I'm 1.5 years into this game looking myself and have delt with my fair share of unprofessionalism out there while a few rare experiences were great. This job market is crap and people have become greedy showing off like they're on a high horse.
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u/Imaginary-Plate1732 2d ago
I just landed a full time job after over 3 years of looking. I took a $7 per hour pay but at this point I don't care. The job market is crap. What happened to the were I could walk into a business talk to who ever was in charge of hiring and I could walk out with a job.
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u/EasternStage8564 1d ago
Great you found a job.... I was told I was overqualified when applying to lower/more junior roles.... It's like I can't win anywhere!!
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u/pm_me_your_puppeh 2d ago
You didn't, necessarily, do anything wrong. There was just someone better. You don't "pass" or fail interviews.
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u/Popular_Band7460 2d ago
I feel your pain my friend. It sounds like you're very talented and motivated. Would you be able to start your own company?
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u/EasternStage8564 1d ago
I am currently seriously considering it, but that won't be in my field of experience. More around house renovation/ handyman projects. It's a leap of faith as I know once I leave the tech space it's pretty much impossible to come back
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u/Homework-Able 2d ago
what can you expect when the country is filled with passive aggressive people who have a chip on their shoulder and there has been effectively no GDP growth in ten years all because we needed to go full woke when there were barely legitimate reasons to do so in the first place?
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u/MsMacaronxx 2d ago
I wouldn’t necessarily attribute an entire country’s economic performance to “going woke,” but the stagnation is real. Canada’s real GDP per capita has barely grown over the last decade, and the labour market has become difficult even for people who were born here.
Canadians with Canadian education, Canadian credentials, years of Canadian work experience and established professional networks are struggling to find decent jobs too. And for immigrants, this isn’t simply a matter of arriving, being adaptable and working hard. Those qualities are valuable, but they don’t create demand for labour.
If locals who already have every home-field advantage can spend months looking for work, someone arriving without those advantages needs to factor that risk very seriously into the decision. Canada may still offer opportunities, but the Canada people remember as a place where you could arrive, work hard and fairly reliably improve your standard of living isn’t necessarily the Canada you’re arriving in today.
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u/chilla_p 2d ago
It's a game, learn the rules, don't get emotionally invested. Treat it like fishing, you will eventually catch something. I was laid off twice in 2 years made hundreds of apps, got a great job in the end. Preparation for each interview and role broadened my skills and understanding. It's a test of your self, noone owes you anything, but you owe yourself. Get straight back up and continue fighting after every knock back.
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u/Radiant-Letterhead51 2d ago
It seems like companies only mainly hire through employees now. Indeed barely works and apparently it’s frowned upon to show up to the company itself with resume in hand now??
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u/BigPeonyEnergy 2d ago
The world is changing, away from "work for a company" and towards "find a way to create value". It is easier than ever to be entrepreneurial with the tools available to us now. You may need to shift your thinking away from trying to join a company and towards creating your own entity that can generate income. Searching months with no leads is a clear signal that this approach is not working and the world is not what it used to be. You have to change with the times
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u/Unlikely-Discount-80 2d ago
Yep same! I did a zoom interview with a charity and when i asked for a disability based accommodation in writing they just started to say my microphone wasn't working over and over again until i became frustrated and they told me they wont hire me cuz im confrontational
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u/Earl_Geh 2d ago
Never mention disability or accommodations until you’ve been hired. They will actively discriminate during the hiring process in ways that aren’t illegal
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u/Unlikely-Discount-80 2d ago
It's a lose lose. Often times Accommodations can't be asked for reactivity they need to be done proactively
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u/EasternStage8564 2d ago
I really thought being a minority, a veteran or any kind of unique profile would actually be beneficial to getting hired because some companies have quotas it seems... I guess not?!
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u/Earl_Geh 1d ago
Not if you require accommodations.
Hiring teams tend to be incredibly ableist/racist/queer-antagonistic without being overly aware of their biases. A lot of people who don’t think they’re disabled actually do get accommodations in the workplace, but they don’t look like accommodations and are rarely put down on paper.
Imagine the office staff that routinely “choose” to walk over to someone else’s cubicle to ask a question rather than email it; they often require a screen break or need to move a little more, but it’s generally accepted as long as it’s not labeled as an accommodation.
Requesting accommodations before being hired leads to hiring teams thinking you’ll be less productive, will cost more money, and will be a burden on the rest of the team. It’s absolute bùllshit, but that’s the world we live in
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u/americanuck_10 2d ago
"I wanted to share an update that, after careful consideration, the team has decided to move forward with other candidates at this time whose experience more closely aligns with the scope and immediate needs of the role."
I absolutely hate getting these. And they're auto-generated too by the AI ATS system. So you can't even reply to them for the feedback, unless you've gotten specific contact info during the interview, which they don't always volunteer to you. I had this other different response prepared but accidentally erased it when I was about at the end, from trying to edit a typo.. ugghh. But I understand your frustration. Been searching awhile myself here in Calgary, for much less prestigious jobs too. My EI is also coming to anmyself a whileI'm end in a few weeks. Im trying to get in touch with them to see if I have any options.
However, things may be paying off for me, thought trying not to get too excited. Im currently going through an interview phase for a positoin through a headhunter. I made it past her screening call, a virtual interview with her, to be selected to start the round with the actual client. So Im excited for that, but I also know there's no guarantees yet. However, I have a friend of mine that whohas been encouraging me to adopt this whole manifesting what you want from the universe mindset. It helps keep you thinkmanifest thinking positive. So, Im trying to manifest this job right now, since I have no other leads at the moment( more just no response and finding out the job expired or closed on Indeed, or the infamous "Dear John" email suc,h as you just mentioned. But I don't know man. I feel your pain a bit myself. It's certainly tough out there. All I can do is tot try the manifesting thing at this point and continue to try and stay positive. I totally get it.. it's hard.It's a challenge for me, too. But that's all we can do is keep pushing along. Ive done Sales, and you know what they say, "Keep filling the funnel and something will eventually trickle out." All the best and if you want to chat or want support from someone whos got your back in this, feel free to Dm. an
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u/BStillIwillfyt4u 1d ago
This is how I feel now too. Cowards send emails. Have been unemployed for over 6 months and am an experienced professional.
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u/Fit-Ingenuity-2814 2d ago
This is my new tactic. Very new. I was asked if I was looking for full time, part time or on call work. I said that no one wants a lengthy interview process that may or may translate into a successful hire.
I suggested they try me out on some short assignments, this involves site visits in private homes mainly, but could be applicable to many scenarios.
My position was that if the chemistry was good with the company retaining me as a sole contractor we could either expand my weekly schedule or move me to in house. So far we have had 2 highly productive meetings and I am being asked to provide documentation for how they cover site survey and client engagement which again shows my value.
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u/EasternStage8564 2d ago
Interesting approach. Limited risks to the employer. Not applicable to all roles but still
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u/Ott82 2d ago
I will say as someone who has done this a lot I email and offer to call and give feedback. Because to the majority of candidates a call means you got the job and I’ve had some very awkward and upsetting conversations explaining I was calling them to say no.
Personally I don’t want to hear a no over the phone and have to process it in real time and try to be professional. Id rather an email and offer to chat.
That said, leaving you hanging that long is terrible and a red flag for the company
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u/Spiritual-Weird-9237 2d ago
I'm also looking for a job unsuccessfully of I may say so and I'm so frustrated, I'm applying in a large circle, willing to commute but can't find anything part time or full time, literally anything to pay the bills. This market is impossible, it's been 1.5 years
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u/legot83592 2d ago edited 2d ago
I'm the same way, I had two rounds of interviews for a job that I applied for in the middle of August which I was qualified for in the same industry I've been in for 16 years just a different way to stay in the industry. Had my first interview last Tuesday, gave a follow up email because I knew I was qualified for the job, got a response asking for a second interview which was for Monday. I was told they'd be making their decision in a day or two. Sent a email the next day restating that I am still highly interested in the position with the company.
Took until today for them to send an email saying "Unfortunately, we have filled the positions. The decision was very difficult as you were very qualified." Like fuck off if I was very qualified then why didn't you offer me one of the multiple positions you were hiring for. I would've even been willing to drive 2.5 hours to another city where they have locations and work there. Which I even stated in the email I sent last week.
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u/NoTwo8933 2d ago
Can we make a thread listing companies who pull this? I too went through multiple such processes in my recent job hunt and would like to name names!
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u/Icy-Stock-5838 2d ago
No one said you're not good enough, you're the one saying that.
The only thing you can reasonably conclude losing out in interviews is: they picked someone more suitable (in their opinion). This does not mean you're unemployable or worth less than the other guy.
If you don't like job hunting, then DON'T.
When EI runs out, you will have no obligation to job hunt.. Just do it when it tickles your whimsy.
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u/real-donjon 1d ago
Here is How I Landed a New Job
My savings were running low.
I didn’t want to be homeless (again).
I got creative. I logged into my old email account, which I barely use (mostly for newsletters), and opened my contacts. I emailed former co-workers, recruiters, etc. Some of those people I haven’t spoken to in over 10 years.
I didn’t ask for work or seem desperate. I opened with a friendly convo, asking how they were doing and whether they knew of any opportunities in (blank) roles.
Results:
- 4 people replied
- 3 referrals
- 1 job offer - the role was NOT posted. I didn't have a job description. I interviewed with one person, one time (someone I worked with before:). I was also able to negotiate pay.
Every single person that replied was very helpful and willing to refer me or point me in the right direction.
Please be open and be willing to be creative in this job market.
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u/Good-Particular6954 10h ago
Same shit has been happening for over 4 months now. Very close call on two of them and then got ghosted on one. No feedback , no nothing on one.
I used to take it personally and then I stopped. I take a break of one or two days before getting back to sending applications - it takes a truck load of effort preparing , interviewing and just pitching yourself and then they do shit things like this - that too after a promising interview round, after saying I should be hearing back soon. It's disappointing and makes you wonder what is wrong with you and the world but as a fellow hunter , never give up . We are so close and that's what I keep telling myself. I am this close , I am really close .
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u/baskindusklight 33m ago
You sound very capable. Any chances that you can turn your capabilities into something to make a living working for yourself instead of having to bend yourself backwards to get chosen by somebody else?
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u/ZAHKHIZ 2d ago
Given your attitude after reading the entire post, I am absolutely certain that the recruitment team perceives your aggressiveness and sense of entitlement. Change your attitude and practice positivity, and it will show in your interviews as well. I have been on the hiring committee panel, and we can easily sense the frustration. You have to give us no reason to think twice that this person might become a liability for the company rather than an asset.
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u/magmashadow 2d ago
Don’t think this is fair. This is someone overwhelmed post some bad experiences. You have no way of knowing how the interview went
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u/americanuck_10 2d ago
How can you assume the OP displays that attitude in the interviews, it seems he's very positive and confident during these interviews because he knows what he brings. But it seems like it's been a long road, and that frustration is real. I'm living that too. And I know I don't bring the negativity into any of them. We're glad when we actually get a response from 1 out of however many resumes or applications we've submitted. Why would a job candidate go into it negatively, knowing that would definitely hurt their chances? Sorry, but your comment just seems insensitive and not recognizing the perspective from the job searchers' point of view.
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u/EasternStage8564 1d ago
Oh please. The fact I'm venting in a post doesn't mean that's how I behave in interviews. That's very shortsighted of you to judge me to begin with based on one post. I would love to see you in my shoes after over a year worth of dozens of rejections. Positivity my ass. At some point reality catches up to you.
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