A reader writes:
I’ve been in search of a job for a yr and eventually accepted a hybrid function at a medium-sized start-up. I’ve been right here for every week and a half. It’s effective however issues are fairly disorganized and my supervisor retains making feedback about me in a management function quickly, which I notice an increasing number of that I are not looking for.
Throughout the time between signing and beginning, I used to be contacted by one other firm (I had despatched out over 300 functions and was nonetheless within the mode of claiming sure to each interview; I notice the respectful factor would have been to withdraw) and stored getting invited again for extra interviews. This second firm pays 30% extra, is bigger and extra established so I’ll have a possibility to study course of lacking from my largely freelance resume), has extra sturdy product, and is totally distant. No brainer! Till.
The hiring supervisor of this second firm emailed to say he needed to fulfill to debate a suggestion. About half an hour earlier than the assembly, he stated we’d not be discussing the supply as a result of they hadn’t accomplished my references. As an alternative we’d be discussing suggestions from the interview course of. Bizarre, proper? After a perfunctory questions, he introduced up:
1) a response of mine from the interview course of (that I actually don’t bear in mind) the place it appears the notion was that I don’t deal nicely with battle and simply do no matter I need
2) a time I had a “heated political dialog” … 10 years in the past once I was at school. (An individual on the hiring committee went to highschool with me, so I assume he was the supply. The hiring supervisor did a nasty job convincing me in any other case. I requested the hiring supervisor for extra particulars about this decade-old dialog and when he couldn’t present them, I requested if I might contact my former classmate to make clear. He stated no as a result of he had not cleared speaking to me concerning the anecdote with my former classmate.)
The interview made me uncomfortable and confused. He appeared reserved and “diplomatic”: on the finish of the decision he stored saying if there have been to be a suggestion, if you had been to affix the group…
Just a few hours later, after they had accomplished my reference checks, (I checked with them they usually all stated the particular person they spoke with — not the hiring supervisor — particularly requested about battle with me), he emailed saying the best way I had approached the assembly and my references had made him assured I’d be an excellent group member and when might I meet to go over the supply?
Is that this an enormous crimson flag? I’m type of starry-eyed concerning the comp and the way good the function might be for my profession development. What questions ought to I ask once we “go over the supply” (actually who is aware of what this assembly may be)? I’m apprehensive about coming off confrontational.
As a result of I used to be out of labor for thus lengthy, I want to remain at my subsequent job for not less than a pair years (additionally, I’m so sick of job looking) however I fear that I’m shifting one thing okay for one thing … possibly unhealthy?
Yeah, I’d be delay too.
Why are they even establishing a gathering to make a suggestion after they haven’t completed your reference examine?
After which, quite than rescheduling the assembly as soon as he realized the references weren’t performed, he determined to make use of that decision to dig into his obvious reservations. To be clear, if he had reservations, he ought to discuss to you about them earlier than making a choice — however then why had he already arrange the supply assembly within the first place? I think the reservations had been someplace at the back of his head and he initially hadn’t deliberate to comply with up on them, however then when he had a name with you and no supply to make, he figured he would possibly as nicely ask. It comes throughout weirdly to you because the candidate, however okay, I can see how he obtained there.
However asking a couple of “heated political dialog” from 10 years in the past?! If it was heated since you had been saying issues that had been, say, racist or homophobic or in any other case bigoted, I can see why he’d be involved about bringing you into their office. However in any other case … actually? That’s A Lot. And I’m not thrilled about you taking a job the place the supervisor would possibly have already got a chip on his shoulder about you, and may be more likely to see each minor battle by means of an already biased lens.
As for whether or not these are big crimson flags … nicely, they’re not inexperienced ones, that’s for certain. I don’t assume you’re in “run like hell” territory, however it could be good to get extra data.
One factor you possibly can do is just ask him head-on within the subsequent dialog, “I used to be shocked once you requested a couple of political dialog from a decade in the past, and I questioned should you might inform me extra concerning the concern in your finish so I’m not strolling right into a state of affairs the place I may not perceive all of the dynamics in play.”
However in your sneakers, I’d need to collect a lot of intel about what this supervisor is like, from sources aside from him. Can you’re employed your community to seek out individuals who have labored with him and get the low-down? If that’s not possible, you possibly can strive asking to fulfill just a few folks on the group, though that’s not as dependable (since folks at present working for him typically gained’t be as candid as individuals who aren’t). What you study from doing that’s more likely to both make you are feeling extra comfy shifting ahead or make it clear that you simply shouldn’t take a suggestion from this man.
