Job Hunting Issues - Advice?
 

I've been doing a lot of job hunting lately with little success. I'm not looking for anything specific career wise, just some place to give me money while I figure things out. I've turned in dozens of applications but since it's the start of summer most summer positions have been filled.

Here's where I could use some advice. A week and a half ago I got a call back and interviewed for job that would be ideal because it's in the same mall that my other job will be at which is a seasonal Christmas store. The interview went great, I really liked the staff I met and it's seems like it would be a great fit. There were two of us being interviewed simultaneously due to a schedule mix-up, but even that went really great. The store manager who interviewed us explained that the store was very short-staffed and it seemed like she hired both of us on the spot pending our background checks. After we filled out some paperwork for our background checks she said she would get them turned in as soon as possible and we'd hear back soon. She then said she'd like to try to get us in over the weekend (our interview was on a Wednesday) to train but if we haven't heard from her by Monday to give her a call.

Everything seemed good. I didn't hear from her by Monday so I called. The woman who picked up said the manager had just stepped out but would be back soon so I gave her my name and number and told her to give her the message that I was just following up on my interview. Nothing. Called back on Tuesday, I couldn't get a hold of anyone. Wednesday, the man who answered the phone told me she went home early sick. I left another message. Now it's Saturday and I still haven't heard anything.

I'm continuing to look for other jobs but should I just quit waiting on this job? I'd really like it but I'm starting to feel like I've been strung along. I keep questioning if I said or did something wrong or if I misunderstood her. But telling us that she wants to get us in to train sounds a lot like hiring a person, right? You don't plan on training people you aren't hiring. I then keep worrying that maybe she wanted us to show up that weekend to train but that can't be true because she didn't give any details about when or where. Should I continue you to try and get in touch with the woman or just wait and see? I wouldn't feel so bad if I was getting call backs from other places but I'm not and I really need to work.

Sometimes the hiring process doesn't go as smoothly as everyone would like. Things might be temporary chaotic due to short-staffing, illness, and who-knows-what. In such situations, it's easy to forget about necessary paperwork, and difficult to find time for training sessions.

Alternatively, you could be getting signs that this is a miserable place to work.

I would keep an open mind and not give up on this job possibility, and at the same time keep up the frantic job searching. This bird is still in the bush. And it will still be in the bush until you've worked there a month or so and KNOW that it's the right fit for you.

Thanks! That really helps my peace of mind.

Ditto everything about this. :)

If they are looking at hiring two new employees at the same time, they are probably very short-staffed. If it were something you had said or had misunderstood her, she would probably rather just tell you over the phone than give you the run around. It sounds like they are just a bit chaotic right now.

From what you said, it sounds like they have already hired you if they want to train you. But, I would certainly keep looking just to have a backup. Good luck and let us know what happens!!

I'm old, done this job thing a lot. This is a road that goes both ways.:D

Send them a thank you card, thank them for taking the time to interview you.

Wait a few days for the card to arrive. Make one more call back, if they blow you off,,,,,,

Send one more card, email, voice message, stop in, in person, whatever, thanking them, for the opportunity, but tell them, due to their lack of appropriate response to your previous contact, you have decided, that there management style, does not fit, with in your work ethics, and tell them to have a nice day!;)

Well, your interview started off with a scheduling mistake which means things aren't being run well then you were told you'd get a call and never did. There's nothing wrong with calling them to find out the status but from the sound of it this might be a miserable place to work, disorganized at best with a boss who says one thing and does another. I'd keep up the job search!

So I got a call this morning and it turns out my background check paperwork got lost in transport. Whether that's the actual truth or not, a new one has been submitted and hopefully things work out.

The store is undergoing a new management shift so I'm going to give it a fair shot. I'm hoping things will iron out but I also understand things could wind up miserable. But I need a paycheck so I can always look for another job in the meantime.