Interesting Job Interview

The agency will remain nameless, but just know they are federal. I applied for a position and I was asked to participate in a telephone interview. This was new to me on two fronts; this was my first federal interview, and it was my first telephone interview.

So I dialed into a "Go To Meeting" type system and spoke with 8 interviewers from all over pacific northwest, and the interview lasted 45 minutes. At the end of the interview, I thanked all the participants and I went to hang up my cell phone, but the end call button on my phone wouldn't respond. I just downloaded a software update the night before, so today was the first phone call I made since that software update. So as I'm vigorously mashing the button to end the call, the interviewers must have thought I clicked off. So they proceeded to have their meeting right then and there to discuss the candidates and make their selections.

At that point curiosity got the best of me, so I remained on the call (not having much of a choice) and I just hit the mute button on my phone. I listened to their entire 20 minute interview appraisal as they discussed the final 3 candidates. I just kind of laughed because not everyone gets the opportunity to listen in on the evaluation of their interview immediately following the interview from the panel of individuals who just conducted the interview. In the end they decided to go with another candidate; which was completely fine. It was an interesting experience, and now I know what I should adjust in the future.
:stooges:

 

Federal /government job —likely could have gone to a relative, friend, etc. of an interview panel member. :banghead:

 

Or the best qualified applicant. There's always that.

 

After listening to the interviewers discuss the other two people who made it to the top of the list, they discussed their qualifications and even I have to admit they sounded like a better option than myself. All three of us had great qualifications, but some of their experiences related better to what they were looking for when filling this particular position.

I think their assessment of me was pretty fair, with one exception that I took issue with because one of the interviewers felt I "questioned them."What happen was they threw out a (federal) term I wasn't familiar with, so I asked for clarification so I could intelligently answer their question. I thought I did so respectfully, but I guess one of them felt differently; to each their own.

Like I said, it was fascinating to sit in on the call and listen to what they had to say.

 

Sorry

Ouch Rich!

 

Norcal, I have a friend who applied with the federal government (online) and interviewed over the phone. She interviewed with a panel of 4 and then another 2 three days later. They thanked her for the interview and ended the call. She received a call, one week afterwards, requesting different documentation. She submitted all that was requested. They called her and offered her the position. Never once did she meet anyone in person before reporting to work.

She said that she thought someone was recording her on Punk'd. She thought it was a real prank until information arrived in the mail.

 

No kidding, thats interesting.

 

Oh, alright Rich … so nepotism is non-existent. So much of government is always that ... staffed with the best qualified applicant. Sure thing; oh silly me…

 

Definitely not all of them. It's a pretty big issue though. That happens a lot in corporate America too though.

 

Hmm, I’m not making it sound like anything that precise man. That’s your spin (e.g., 100%). Yet, you could have just as readily considered and presented the notion that Rich (federal bureaucrat) may have tried to make it appear as if nepotism within government hiring practice is so very isolated … that it’s not even worth bringing up (e.g., 0%). Now we’ve covered both ends of the spectrum …

 

Agreed, but in my experience, much more so in public sector employment practice (federal, state, and local). K-12 public education may be one the worst institutions in regards to their overall hiring and promotion practices. Way too much entrenched nepotism and office politics…

 

I didn't say that.

Have you served in the Federal Civil Service? I have for 7 years.

You've offered two extremes--the second in jest. The truth is between them. If you have evidence regarding where on that continuum the truth lies, fine. Share it.

 

What is your experience?

 

Okay my career bio: In addition to 12-years military and then 21-years in corporate America; re K-12 public education—I later served as a teacher (3-years), as well as, a high school principal (6-years) in a number of K-12 public school districts. Regrettably, I've witnessed firsthand the public school nepotism in hiring practice that is organizationally embedded. Don’t buy into the fallacy that K-12 public education motivation is so child-centered. Even so, my direct experience comments are not intended as an out-and-out to be targeted at all industry (private or public) … but through that direct experience, corrupt hiring and promotion practice via favoritism is very much alive and well in the K-12 public school arena. Such practice ultimately adversely affects public schools so called core business … its students.

 

PS Regarding K-12 public education; some of those years were also served in the 5-12 juvenile justice education services division arena (e.g., juvenile probation—municipal /county government). An unintentional oversight…

 

Agreed. I work for the State now. My office is a mix of county and state employees. We do a pretty decent job of hiring from different sources, backgrounds, etc...However, I have seen a TON of other offices skip over more qualified people for others that know the "right" people. It's become to the point were it's definitely "part of the game". A friend of mine works with DeCA. Half of the jobs they post in her area they already pretty much know who they are going to hire.

 

OMG I totally would have listened too.

 

I’m surprised it’s only half…