As some of you may know I have struggled with finding work
as a multimedia expert, and have struggled just as hard to find any work at all
up until three years ago because somehow I could not get anyone to hire me
anywhere. However, once I did break into being a sales rep, I quickly found my
way up the ladder, and have been in a few positions which I was quite happy
with. However I still hold out hope of finding a great 3D multimedia position.
So imagine my surprise when I get a phone call out of the
blue from a company looking for just that. It was a position for a 3D
specialist with my skill set. So I interviewed with him on the phone.
Now what I somehow missed was the fact that this position
was in the Dallas/Arlington area, and that I would have to move away from my
family, and convince my fiancé to move with me as well. Still I heard him out,
and was really interested in finding out more. I did not hear from him again
for another month or two but when I did. I realized that is was indeed in Arlington,
TX, but that it was basically my dream job as a multimedia 3D expert.
So this set up the interview
with the actual client where there were misunderstandings a plenty. But I
seemed to impress them.
From then on I waited a few weeks to hear back, and when I
finally was contacted it was by another 3rd party hiring firm who
was in charge of salary details, and start date. I informed them of my salary
requirements, and my starting date. I also let them know I would want to put in
my two week notice for my current position. They agreed and informed me that
they would get back to me.
On April first however I received a phone call from my
contact informing me that I had been selected for the position, that they had
not only accepted my salary requirements, but actually raised them by $5,000 a
year, and were going to pay me a $2,500 relocation fee. I was extremely excited
as anyone would be that all of the sudden my dream job had fallen into my lap,
and was planning to pay me enough money to make up for all the years of trying. To top it off the position was with a combination of two huge game companies I've always wanted to work for.
I was then told that I should put in my two week notice immediately,
we set a start date, and I was told that I would receive the emailed job offer
that Friday or Monday at the latest. However...Friday came and went, along with
Monday…I called my contact there and there was no answer. I then emailed the
first person who emailed me asking for the offer letter and received an odd
response.
“This requirement is taken care by Seema she will reach you directly if we need to schedule interviews with the customer.”-Sunil.
To which I replied
“You seem to have misunderstood. I was offered the
position. Seema called me, offered me the position, and told me to put in my
two week notice. After that I did not hear from her again. This does not seem
like a normal thing to do to someone so I was wondering if I could receive the
offer letter, otherwise there is nothing to the job offer.”
His next
response was just as odd. “Please coordinate with Seema. Excuse typos!”-Sunil
The problem
was that Seema apparently did not answer her phone. So I asked Sunil for her
email address. He did not respond. The next day I asked him again, and it wasn’t
until the next day that he gave me her email address. I then decided to write
her.
“Seema,
You offered me this position April first, you told me to
put my two week notice in, and you never called me back. I have called your
number several times. I have left a message with you. I have emailed Sunil, and
other contact people in your company. I am at a loss as to why somebody would
offer someone a job, tell them to leave their stable job and then never contact
them again. I really feel like this needs an explanation.”
She actually responded to me with
this…
“I apologize for any confusion but when we talked, I mentioned the position is almost confirmed but I still needed the written confirmation from the client and I will get back to you with the joining date if we will proceed with your hiring.
I also tried reaching your number two times and left
a voice message too but never got a call back on my cell number as requested so
thought you would not have been interested in further discussions.”
Right…so…I wrote her back…
“I received no phone calls, no voicemails, and no emails. I
can only assume you have my email and possibly you got
my phone number wrong? I do have the job offer phone call recorded and have
re-listened to it. There was no confusion. I was offered the job, I was told to
put my two week notice on April 2nd, and you told me that I would receive the
offer letter by Friday, or Monday at the latest.
You also told me you would send me an email that night
confirming that I was chosen to take the position. So I'm still confused by
this. I could've put in my two week notice and ended up jobless at this point.”
Her final response to me was very similar to all the
others. She completely missed the point.
“As I talked to you to find out if you were still available for that position and when you would be able to join. After that the position went on hold from the client side and did not proceed with your hiring.
I tried reaching you over the phone and ended up in
leaving the voice message. I did not try calling you after two times as was not
even sure if have been reaching you on the correct number. Again, I sincerely
apologize for all this.”
So here you have it. One call out of the blue, several
interviews, one life changing job offer, a request to leave my job that could’ve
ruined my life, and one “sincere apology.” I wasn’t sure what to write back,
but I decided I would ask for the offer letter anyway to shop around town for a
similar position.
