I don't normally post on the job hunt stuff, but this one pissed me off...

[acroyear]

For once, being a well rounded individual with a life outside of the "geek" world, something I've been trying to foster in myself for the last 10 years (having been ultimate uber-geek in college), has proven my downfall...and this after he even mentioned living in Huntersville, NC and used to go to CRF when he lived there and liked it.

The headhunter:

I just got back a response from [the hiring manager]. He told me that he decided not to hire you at this time. Even though he felt you were a very strong candidate, he decided to go with someone else because you mentioned to them that you would not be available to work weekends. That was the reason for not been hired. I mentioned to you before the interview that you would not have to work weekends unless there is a real need once in a while.

My reply:

You have no idea how insulted, I mean seriously personally insulted, I am by this. When the weekend question came up, not only did I give the specific reasons (my folk dance stuff, culminating in performing at the renaissance festival in Crownesville, MD, during the fall), but his eyes lit up in recognition that I thought was a hint that he would have supported this. My feeling at the time was that he was impressed he would be getting a well-rounded individual with me and that this was encouraged. I did make it clear that I would have, as an alternative during those times, to work late on the evenings leading up to or following such a weekend, if I was unavailable for the particular weekend.

That I now find what I consider to be a personal strength to be interpreted by a hiring manager as a liability making working with me and all of my skills and talents not worth his time is about as insulting and degrading as I can imagine.

I feel severely prejudiced against, as if I was turned down for being black, a woman, a homosexual, a morris dancer...

...oh waitaminute, I *AM* a morris dancer.

and fucking proud of it, too.

Comments

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

Crikey.
*hugs*h

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

You're not the only one who worries about this.

Companies nowaways see it as their *right* to own your life on what used to be considered days off. It is a strike against you in many places to consider "having a life" as something sacrosanct.

I tell people "I'm a performer" and I hope that they take it not as a threat, but as someone with an interest in the arts. But I have this feeling it's screwed me as well out of more than one job.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

what really hurts is that feeling of betrayal...i've seen the "oh, he's one of *them*" kind of look when the topic of my weekend activities comes up, but i had thought, by the way the conversation went to talking about CRF and the like, that the opposite was happening here. He really seemed to light up over that common experience.

[javasaurus.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's a good thing that you didn't get it. A bit of anger and frustration now, vs. having a job where you're expected to work weekends on a regular basis without notice. How would you feel if you got the job, and a few months from now they start saying you must be there on a Saturday when you had other commitments?

I know it doesn't feel like it now, but maybe they did you a favor?

[dorei.livejournal.com]

The thing you have to remember is that companies are looking for a reason NOT to hire you, rather than a reason TO hire you.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

so if everybody's got their faults, how the hell does anybody get a job?

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

Seconded. If they were lying about "occasional" so much that the run of Faire was too much ( even with extra time in evenings), then what else were they lying about?

I have to be on call for my job. Right now it's at a decent frequency -- there are 9 of us in the rota. But not long ago I spent 8 months as one of only two people on call for a different system, and if Cappricio hadn't had a short run this year, it would have been hell on Faire. As it was I got stuck at Steve's till all hours one night b/c of a call.

Dunno, but last minute unplanned suddenly having to work weekends seems like something ick.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

yeah...when did "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on our part" only go one way?

[dorei.livejournal.com]

They don't talk about their faults. You need to present yourself as a person who has NO other responsibilities than working your ass off for your employer. Yes, they know in their heart of hearts that this couldn't possibly be true, but that's not what they want to hear.

[dglenn.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I had that button when I worked for the U.S. Army, and one day I was just ticked off enough to wear it to work.

My branch chief saw it. He stared. I worried. He scowled. I worried more.

Then he said, "I have a meeting with some colonels -- can I borrow that button."

I handed it to him.

*snort*

[zammis.livejournal.com]

Fine. I'm tired of having to work weekends etc with no warning. I've tolerated it the last year or so, but not anymore.

If all companies want now is no-life automatons, then they shouldn't bitch when the work is substandard, full of bugs and genreally not something they want to put their name on.
There is only so long folks will tolerate this kind of treatment. Of course, that's what H1B visas are for.

<pissed on your behalf

[blueeowyn.livejournal.com]

All I can say is {HUG}, unfortunately, being a computer tech will often mean some weekend work, maybe not often, but it will be there. Since a lot of major upgrades/changes/etc. are done on the weekends (so that the company doesn't lose all of its productivity for a day or two). Maybe the person only heard that you weren't available for weekends? The 9 weeks of Fest may not have been a problem, but with your other dancing commitments it may seem like too much.

Have you considered Higher Ed? It doesn't pay as well, but I suspect that weekend work wouldn't be as common.@

I sorry

[notsoshyviolet.livejournal.com]

I am sorry. That sucks seeing as he there was that little comment of understanding you said. Well, I hope something comes up that is better then that.
I didn't get a chance to get to know you too well at Faire this Season, but you seemed down to earth, if I hear about anything that comes up I'll post to you ASAP. I have a few friends who work the PC field. ::wink wink:: Be well and Happy Thanksgiving.

[aliza250.livejournal.com]

All else being equal, a person who can schedule their personal life around their work, rather than the other way around, *is* more valuable to the company. I certainly used to resent being expected to stay late and wrap up crises when certain co-workers would leave on the stroke of the clock to pick up their kids from daycare...

There is only so long folks will tolerate this kind of treatment. Of course, that's what H1B visas are for.

... until the day you find your entire department has been replaced with a talented and aggressive Indian firm working over the Net for a third of what you are being paid...