A reader writes:
I’ve a query a few bizarre interviewing scenario for a gross sales function.
I had gone by means of a number of interviews with an organization as I used to be evaluating a brand new gross sales function, and the whole interview course of felt customary {and professional} (cellphone display, in-person interview, tour of the department, and subsequent step could be to shadow a chilly name).
After the in-person interview and tour of the department, I bought a name a number of days later from a VP I had met (not the recruiter) telling me that they determined I wasn’t a great match and wouldn’t be transferring ahead within the course of. I did the usual “thanks for the chance, I admire your time, want you one of the best,” after which the VP mentioned, “Simply kidding, I bought you! I wished to see in the event you’d battle for the job.”
I form of awkwardly laughed, he advised me they’d need me to do the chilly name, and I advised him I’d get again to them about scheduling subsequent steps. I ultimately emailed and mentioned that I didn’t suppose it will be the correct match (partially due to the bizarre joke, however I additionally determined to remain in my present function).
I assume my query is … what? Is {that a} professional tactic? In my expertise, getting a “no” from a recruiter is just not the identical as getting a “no” in a gross sales transaction. Ought to I be combating again every time I get rejected for jobs?
Noooo.
What on earth!
It’s true the norms in gross sales will be totally different, however what? Wanting a candidate to battle again in opposition to a rejection? Wanting a candidate to refuse to listen to “we’re going with another person” and as a substitute push to be reconsidered? That’s just about universally thought of obnoxious candidate habits that no employer desires to take care of and which can usually get you blacklisted.
I notice there are some gross sales methods that encourage salespeople to attempt to push previous a no, however (a) many individuals take into account that method an enormous turn-off in a gross sales context too and can by no means purchase from somebody who does that, and (b) even when we set that apart, typically folks perceive that ways for one kind of scenario aren’t at all times acceptable in others.
I suppose if they’re screening for candidates who will run roughshod over folks’s boundaries and ignore clear “not ” statements, this can be a solution to do it. However I’m guessing that’s not a spot the place you need to work … and by withdrawing, you rightly screened that habits out.
(For the sake of thoroughness, I will even notice that it’s not 100% clear that it was a screening tactic from them, versus only a dangerous joke, given the VP’s bizarre “simply kidding, I bought you!” and curiosity in transferring you ahead anyway. Rejecting you as a joke could be a complete totally different drawback, although.)